The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) members working at the Gautrain on Friday fought back with "the only weapon they have in their possession — the right to strike".That’s according to Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola."Our members are angry. They have been forced into taking this course of drastic action because management is refusing to pay benefits in line with the wage agreement, which was signed last year‚" she said.Workers want a R5‚000 housing allowance and 13th cheque, and claims these have been outstanding since wage negotiations last year. "We have been patiently trying to get management to place an acceptable offer on the table‚ but to no avail‚" Hlubi-Majola said.Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said that 71 employees — more than half (56%) of the maintenance employees — had embarked on the protected strike. She added that "there is no agreement with [Numsa] stating that the company will pay workers a housing allowance. The company salary struct...
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