Johannesburg – A strike is looming at Gautrain after the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) administration and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) failed to achieve an settlement on wage hikes.
“Wage negotiations deadlocked on the ninth of June 2025 and NUMSA filed a dispute with the CCMA which was heard yesterday,” NUMSA National Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola mentioned on Wednesday, 2 July 2025.
“Unfortunately, events had been nonetheless unable to search out each other because of the vanity of the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) administration which has resulted in a certificates to strike being issued.
“The BOC refuses to place a significant supply on the desk and so they have solely provided 4.2% enhance.”
Hlubi-Majola mentioned sadly the CCMA facilitation by a senior commissioner didn’t yield any optimistic outcomes.
She revealed that NUMSA has been granted a certificates to strike by the CCMA, after it deadlocked with BOC.
Hlubi-Majola mentioned NUMSA members had been adamant and resolute of their calls for at Gautrain which embrace:
- 7% across-the-board wage enhance
- Housing allowance of R1 600, it’s at the moment R1 300
- Transport allowance of R150, it’s at the moment R 125
- Night Shift allowance of R50.00 per hour, it’s at the moment R38 per hour
- KPI bonus of R15 000, it’s at the moment R9 600
At least 7.9 million individuals use the Gautrain and in line with the Gautrain Management Agency.
Gautrain boasts a median availability fee, which is over 95% and punctuality is above 95%.
“This fee of efficiency is because of staff, particularly NUMSA members who be certain that the prepare runs optimally and effectively day-after-day,” Hlubi-Majola mentioned.
“It is because of our members’ direct efforts of working onerous to fulfill the corporate’s set targets and targets that the corporate obtained the coveted title of ‘Best Rail operator of the Year in Africa’ for the yr 2025.
“It is staff who put within the effort to guarantee that commuters are in a position to attain their locations safely and on time.
“This can’t be achieved by executives in air conditioned workplaces.
“Therefore, the calls for staff are making is truthful, as a result of they’re contributing to the optimistic efficiency of the Gautrain.”
Furthermore, the price of residing disaster has resulted in all primary wants like meals and electrical energy rising, Hlubi-Majola mentioned.
“This week electrical energy went up by 12.5%, and the gas tariffs have simply been adjusted up,” she mentioned.
“This has a unfavorable impression on the value of products as a result of it signifies that items and consumables are dearer.
“Our members haven’t any alternative however to demand will increase which can be going to mitigate them towards these hikes that have an effect on them each day.”
Hlubi-Majola mentioned ideallyNUMSA wish to keep away from a strike as a result of staff additionally endure because of the no-work-no-pay coverage.
“However, because of the vanity and stubbornness of the BOC administration, NUMSA has no alternative however to name on its members to poll by way of the Labour Relations Act and the potential of a crippling strike is imminent for Gautrain,” Hlubi-Majola mentioned.
“The ball is within the courtroom of administration.
“They must make a significant supply to stop a complete shutdown of providers.”
She mentioned NUMSA was calling on the Gautrain Management Authority and the Gauteng provincial authorities to intervene and apply stress on the BOC administration to come back to the occasion and put a significant supply on the desk for our members to contemplate.
