Already reeling from arson and vandalism in Cape Town‚ which many have linked to “illegal strike action”‚ Metrorail has now been threatened with formal industrial action by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The federation’s regional secretary‚ Tony Ehrenreich‚ on Tuesday both denounced the attacks‚ which have hobbled the rail service in the provincial capital‚ and attacked Metrorail for “systemic problems that have been underserviced over the last few years”.
“Whilst the arsonist and cable thieves must be dealt with to the full extent of the law‚ we must also show urgency in the upgrading and repair of the system‚” he said in a statement.
“To blame everything on the cable thieves is to remove the responsibility of fixing the systemic problems that have been underserviced over the last few years.”
Ehrenreich said Cosatu will be reinstating its negotiations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council “to ensure urgent action in addressing the weaknesses across the system”.
“Should Metrorail and government at all levels fail to put in place measures that mitigate the disaster in the transport sector for workers and their families then Cosatu will take strike action against them.”
On Tuesday‚ the Western Cape’s Minister of Transport and Public Works‚ Donald Grant‚ noted suspicions that the “the latest vandalism is linked to illegal strike action stemming from a wage and conditions of service dispute with Metrorail”.
The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union — which is in dispute with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA‚ under which Metrorail falls‚ after its planned strike was interdicted earlier this month — has dismissed allegations that is behind the incidents.
Grant described the attacks on Metrotrail as “acts of economic sabotage” and an “attack on the state and its agents”.
“The consequences for these acts must be in line with the severity of the crimes committed. This is the only way to deter would-be perpetrators.”
This was echoed by Ehrenreich‚ who said: “Cosatu is calling for the harshest sentence to be imposed on the arsonist who had burnt down the trains.”
Ehrenreich’s claims that “the perpetrator has been arrested” could not be confirmed at the time of publication.
Trains on most of Cape Town’s lines were said to be running up to 40 minutes late on Wednesday.
Cosatu threatens reeling Metrorail with strike action
Already reeling from arson and vandalism in Cape Town‚ which many have linked to “illegal strike action”‚ Metrorail has now been threatened with formal industrial action by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The federation’s regional secretary‚ Tony Ehrenreich‚ on Tuesday both denounced the attacks‚ which have hobbled the rail service in the provincial capital‚ and attacked Metrorail for “systemic problems that have been underserviced over the last few years”.
“Whilst the arsonist and cable thieves must be dealt with to the full extent of the law‚ we must also show urgency in the upgrading and repair of the system‚” he said in a statement.
“To blame everything on the cable thieves is to remove the responsibility of fixing the systemic problems that have been underserviced over the last few years.”
Ehrenreich said Cosatu will be reinstating its negotiations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council “to ensure urgent action in addressing the weaknesses across the system”.
“Should Metrorail and government at all levels fail to put in place measures that mitigate the disaster in the transport sector for workers and their families then Cosatu will take strike action against them.”
On Tuesday‚ the Western Cape’s Minister of Transport and Public Works‚ Donald Grant‚ noted suspicions that the “the latest vandalism is linked to illegal strike action stemming from a wage and conditions of service dispute with Metrorail”.
The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union — which is in dispute with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA‚ under which Metrorail falls‚ after its planned strike was interdicted earlier this month — has dismissed allegations that is behind the incidents.
Grant described the attacks on Metrotrail as “acts of economic sabotage” and an “attack on the state and its agents”.
“The consequences for these acts must be in line with the severity of the crimes committed. This is the only way to deter would-be perpetrators.”
This was echoed by Ehrenreich‚ who said: “Cosatu is calling for the harshest sentence to be imposed on the arsonist who had burnt down the trains.”
Ehrenreich’s claims that “the perpetrator has been arrested” could not be confirmed at the time of publication.
Trains on most of Cape Town’s lines were said to be running up to 40 minutes late on Wednesday.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos