Latest news with #Hlubi-Majola
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Numsa considers downing tools as wage talks with Gautrain deadlock
Numsa has criticised Gautrain management's wage proposal as out of touch with South Africa's high cost of living, calling for a 7% raise instead. National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members march to Comair offices in Kempton Park on 15 March 2022. Picture: Michel Bega As Gautrain celebrates its 15th anniversary on Tuesday, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it will be balloting its members to determine whether it will be going ahead with a strike at the Gauteng rapid rail network. This comes after wage increase negotiations with Bombela Operating Company – which manages the Gautrain – reached a deadlock. Numsa rejects 4.2% increase offer Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said in a statement that the union was granted a certificate to strike, which means it can give Gautrain 48 hour notice to down tools. 'Our members rejected the employer's offer of [a] 4.2% wage increase [for] Gautrain workers because this is not a meaningful increase,' Hlubi-Majola said. 'We are demanding [a] 7% increase across the board. While management clings to the Consumer Price Index as a benchmark, workers are living in a country where the cost of survival has skyrocketed far beyond the consumer price index (CPI),' she added. Question of affordability According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, the average food basket now costs an estimated R5 443. Citing this information released by the non-profit organisation in June, Hlubi-Majola said Gautrain's offer is paltry. She said the lowest-paid Gautrain worker, a cleaner, earns approximately R9 000 and can't be expected to absorb the increases with a 4.2% increase. ALSO READ: Numsa to meet Nissan SA over reported Rosslyn plant closure Workers 'deserve a living wage' This is not just a wage dispute, Hlubi-Majola said; it's a question of dignity and fairness. 'The demands we are making are reasonable given that the cost of living is extremely high. This is why we say CPI increases are not enough – workers at Gautrain deserve a living wage,' she said. 'Gautrain's world-class performance with over 7.9 million passengers annually and a 95% punctuality rate is only made possible by the very workers now being told to 'tighten their belts' while executives remain insulated in air-conditioned offices. 'The same executives are rewarded with generous packages, when it is ordinary workers whose labour is exploited in order to generate Gautrain's world-class performance.' Hlubi-Majola said Numsa's demand for a 7% increase is a modest, reasonable adjustment that reflects the real cost of living in South Africa today. Rather than a luxury, it's a lifeline, she said. Numsa calls for meaningful offer 'We call on the Bombela Operating Company and the Gautrain Management Agency to put a meaningful offer on the table. Workers are not asking for miracles; they are asking for economic justice. We all have a responsibility to end wage inequality, and that includes the bosses at Gautrain.' Gautrain, which was launched in 2010, has completed over 200 million passenger trips and employs approximately 1 200 people. NOW READ: Outa calls for 'open cards' amid Gautrain changes
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gautrain shutdown looms as NUMSA secures strike certificate
Gautrain services could soon grind to a halt Image: Supplied Gautrain services could soon grind to a halt after the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) was granted a certificate to strike by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). This comes after the collapse of wage negotiations with the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which manages operations of the high-speed rail service. According to a statement issued to the media by the union's national spokesperson on Wednesday, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola stated: "Wage negotiations deadlocked on the 9th of June 2025 and NUMSA filed a dispute with the CCMA, which was heard yesterday. Unfortunately, parties were still unable to find one another due to the arrogance of the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) management, which has resulted in a certificate to strike being issued." Some of the key demands from the workers include a 7% across-the-board wage increase, an increase in the housing allowance from R1,300 to R1,600, a rise in the transport allowance from R125 to R150, an increase in the night shift allowance from R38 to R50 per hour, and a boost in the KPI bonus from R9,600 to R15,000. Hlubi-Majola stated that the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) has failed to present a meaningful offer, instead proposing a mere 4.2% wage increase, which the workers have categorically rejected. 'Unfortunately, the CCMA facilitation by a senior commissioner did not yield any positive results,' she said. The union highlighted the rising cost of living as an additional pressure, saying that workers have no choice but to take to the streets. "This week, electricity went up by 12.5%, and the fuel tariffs have just been adjusted up. This has a negative impact on the price of goods because it means that goods and consumables are more expensive. "NUMSA further calls on the Gautrain Management Authority and the Gauteng provincial government to intervene and apply pressure on the BOC management to come to the party and put a meaningful offer on the table for our members to consider." IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Numsa to meet Nissan SA amid reports of Rosslyn plant closure
Nissan's plans will reportedly result in the closure of its Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, as part of a global consolidation strategy to reduce its number of factories from 17 to 10. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has pledged to defend jobs following Nissan's announcement of global plant closures, which include facilities in South Africa. Nissan's plans will reportedly lead to the closure of its Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria as part of its factory consolidation from 17 to 10. The Japanese brand announced last week that it would reduce its global workforce by a further 20 000 jobs on top of 9 000 last year, and shut seven factories after posting a record R82.2 billion revenue loss for the 2024 financial year. 'At least 20 000 jobs are at risk' Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said on Tuesday that the union has noted with concern Nissan's planned shutdown of some of its plants. 'We must be upfront and state that as a union, we have not received formal communication or confirmation, and the information we have is based on media reports. If these reports are true, at least 20 000 jobs are at risk. 'A spokesperson for Nissan South Africa reportedly stated that the company is conducting a detailed internal assessment and cannot confirm which plants will be affected, and we understand from the media that these closures are anticipated, and final decisions are likely to be made by the 2027 fiscal year,' Hlubi-Majola said in a statement. ALSO READ: Reports claim Rosslyn to be one of Nissan's plants facing closure Numsa plans to meet Nissan Hlubi-Majola said Numsa is planning to meet the management of Nissan soon. 'We hope to get clarity on the situation. As soon as we do, we will update the public and our members. Numsa wants to assure its members that it stands ready to defend jobs in the sector.' According to reports, the factories reported for closure are the Oppama and Shonan plants in Japan, one of its three facilities in Mexico, and the Chennai and Santa Isabel plants in India and Argentina, which are operated by alliance partner Renault. ALSO READ: Numsa welcomes landmark ruling declaring load shedding unconstitutional
