Gautrain shutdown looms as NUMSA secures strike certificate
Gautrain services could soon grind to a halt
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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."
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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