Metrorail: Says SATAWU strike has failed

[Steve Appleton]

From Business Day, 27 February 2012, http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/C ... ?id=165985

Metrorail says Satawu rail strike has failed.
South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union calls for suspension of Lucky Montana, group CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa.

STAFF REPORTER
Published: 2012/02/27 04:11:39 PM

AN ORGANISED rail workers’ strike on Monday by the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) was a failure, Metrorail said. Metrorail operates commuter train services in South Africa’s main urban areas.

"Overall, Metrorail was able to run an 85% train service in all its regions, which indicates that the strike was a dismal failure," spokesman Lawrence Venkile said.

A group within the union had promised a total shutdown of train services across the country, Mr Venkile said. However, Mamokgethi Molopyane, national spokeswoman for Satawu, denied this. "We will not get into a public dispute on who is right about the turnout," she said. "The stations in Gauteng were heavily affected."

Metrorail said operations on Monday morning were only marginally affected by the strike, but added there had been reports of intimidation of drivers arriving for duty, particularly at the Scheiding Street depot in Pretoria. "We have dispatched our protection services to monitor the situation in this area," said Mr Venkile.

Striking rail workers were calling for the suspension of Lucky Montana, group CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), over alleged tender irregularities.

"The Prasa board must commission a forensic investigation into the allegations raised against Mr Montana, and pending that outcome he must be placed on special leave or suspension," Ms Molopyane said. "Our members will regroup on Wednesday to assess the impact of the strike. They are planning a mass march to the Department of Transport in Pretoria on March 5 to highlight the serious issues within Prasa," she added.

Mosenngwa Mofi, CEO of Prasa Rail, said: "It is rather unfortunate that this strike is premised on unsubstantiated allegations, which have been rejected as unfounded, spurious and without any basis. "We are pleased that our employees have remained vigilant and not allowed themselves to be used in a campaign to discredit the business."

Metrorail asked for commuters’ patience during the strike and said it would keep them informed of developments.

SAPA

[Steve Appleton]

Earlier story on SATAWU's call for PRASA CEO, Lucky Montana, to step down:
From Business Day, 1 February 2012, http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/C ... ?id=163827

Rail agency CEO rejects call to quit.
Prasa CEO Lucky Montana dismisses calls by Satawu for his suspension.

ALISTAIR ANDERSON and NICKY SMITH
Published: 2012/02/01 08:02:14 AM

PASSENGER Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) CEO Lucky Montana has dismissed calls by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) for his suspension, just weeks before the agency embarks on a marketing exercise for its R137bn fleet renewal programme.

Satawu hosted a press conference yesterday at which it called on the Prasa board to look into the agency’s financial accounts for the past five years for irregularities that the union allegedly had evidence of. The union also threatened a national strike by workers at Prasa subsidiary Metrorail if the company did not accede, by February 10, to an independent forensic investigation.

Satawu president Ephraim Mphahlele said it was more effective to deal with corruption by speaking to the press than by handing evidence to the police. Among Mr Mphahlele’s claims were that Satawu shop stewards were harassed and that Prasa had not followed proper procurement procedures, particularly regarding a tender contract to employ more security guards.

Mr Montana dismissed the union’s allegations, calling them damaging and irresponsible. "These guys are a laughing stock, I have seen their statement, and there is nothing there. The only damage he (Mphahlele) is doing is to the country," he said. Prasa was scheduled to start its online marketing programme to provide information to international rolling-stock manufacturers over tender rules and local content requirements in two weeks’ time, Mr Montana said. International investors "are watching this, and what do they think? We are allowing him (Mphahlele) to make wild statements and he is damaging our reputation and I am worried about that. He must be dismissed," Mr Montana said.

Satawu’s call for a forensic investigation meant that it did not have the evidence to back up its allegations and the union could not be taken seriously, Mr Montana said. "These guys can’t submit any evidence for their cause and they are asking for a forensic investigation. Every right-thinking citizen will want to know where is the evidence. "He (Mphahlele) wants us to embark on a fishing expedition in the hopes that we may find some potential thing." Mr Montana said that, after a meeting with the board earlier this week over the allegations, the company was unlikely to accede to Mr Mphahlele’s demands.

Mr Mphahlele said Satawu had acquired two certificates of non-resolution from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration allowing the union to go on strike. "The one certificate will let us strike this Friday. The other one will let us strike, should we choose to do so. We are giving Prasa until February 10 to agree to have an independent forensic investigation," Mr Mphahlele said. "We will co-operate with that investigation. Prasa’s board and Satawu will decide who investigates. We have got documents to give to the investigators. If Prasa disagrees, we will go on strike."

Mr Mphahlele said the timing of the press conference was not connected to Prasa’s drive to acquire new trains. "It is a coincidence. We have no interest in the procurement of trains. We want to see them run properly. Prasa’s procurement project must not stop the issues we are raising." Satawu did not report the allegations to the police over the past two years as it was still collating information, he said.

Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu said he backed the allegations against Prasa.