SATAWU
Transportation Company in Rustenburg

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, SATAWU, was formed in 2000 after a series of negotiations and smaller scale mergers by unions in the transport industry. The sectors include railways, harbours, parastatals, aviation, passenger transport (buses and taxis) freight (trucking), contract, cleaning and security. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) was formed in 2000 after a series of negotiations and small-scale mergers by unions in the transport industry. We have members in diverse sectors including railways, harbours, parastatals, aviation, passenger transport (buses and taxis) freight and logistics (trucking), contract cleaning and security. COSATU only managed to have different trades uniting to form industry unions, for example, the transport industry coming together under one umbrella union, SATAWU. It is important to note the merger was not an easy process and consequently took years to conclude. The sector is focuses on the two established Passenger Rail organisations i.e Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Gautrain. Gautrain employees are members of a different union, a situation that hampers the establishment of a Passenger Rail Bargaining Council since Transnet, which focuses on Freight Rail and other subsidiaries, has an in-house Bargaining Council. SATAWU uses internal communication processes to influence other strategic stakeholders to pursue the Health and Safety agenda for the benefit workers within PRASA. Reports in relation to the Health and Safety Strategy for both Corporate and Divisional level are available. Occupational Health and Safety Standards in PRASA remain one of our priorities and as a result Health and Safety Committees are in place although more still needs to be done. For instance, Health and Safety Committees are still confronted with a few challenges including failure by the employer to provide uniform clothing and PPE. While rail is still largely a male-dominated industry, SATAWU continues to make strides in ensuring that gender struggles are pursued at workplace level and actively promotes the participation of women in both Company and Union structures and in decision making. Training programmes within Prasa take place through Training and Development. We encourage our members to take advantage of every opportunity by ensuring that they submit their Individual Development Programmes (IDP) to enable them to attain relevant skills for the work they perform on daily basis. A number of PRASA shopstewards from various divisions have benefitted from these programmes at all levels of the organisation. SATAWU position in relation to the modernization is clear as in our view it must not lead to job losses and it must be in line with Public Transport Policy which put emphasis on access, affordability, reliable, safe, flexibility and integration in passenger rail in particular. The parties are engaging each other as a way of finding a solution to the impasse. It is clear from our point of view that these negotiations will be tough given some of the pronouncements that had been made by leadership. ESTABLISHMENT OF BARGAINING COUNCIL IN THE PASSENGER RAIL INDUSTRY is on pipeline as engagements with relevant stakeholders are at an advanced stage. The requirements that are laid down in the Labour Relations Act are met and as a result we don’t anticipate difficulties in taking the process to its logical conclusion.