Port strikes will bring SA economy ‘to a standstill’, says Satawu
Union plans to down tools at some of the country's busiest ports on Thursday over alleged race/pay discrepancy
SA’s embattled economy could be hurt further when activity in the country’s busiest ports grinds to a halt with a planned protest by members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) on Thursday. The union warned on Tuesday that it would embark on a total shutdown of the country’s ports over salary discrepancies at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), where it claims whites earn more than their black colleagues. The affected facilities include the port of Durban, one of the busiest ports in Africa, Richards Bay, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, Saldanha Bay and Mossel Bay. Satawu representative at TNPA Reginald Goba said about 300 employees were expected to down tools. They include marine pilots who help steer ships from the ocean into the ports and vice versa; tug masters, who assist pilots; and chief marine engineers, who maintain the ships and operate the engines. Goba said these skill-sets are such that their withdrawal would result in a “total shutdo...
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