Tirisano Transport and Services Union (TASWU) wishes to give feedback and update to its members, interested parties and the public about the developments on wage negotiations within the Road Freight Industry. As a union that is part of and represents workers within the Road Freight Industry, we would like to state the following:
- These are our first wage negotiations within the sector, and
- We entered the process open-minded, willing to learn from unions that were there, however, not to prejudice our members or workers in the entire industry.
The perception that is being created out there that we came to the negotiations with the intention of taking the industry on strike is not true. As an independent trade union, our approach always canvased also with other party unions, is to try anything possible within the signed protocols, if all fails, we then embark on a strike; strike should be the last resort.
Over the past years, wage negotiations were about increases, the rest of the administrative, monetary and policy related issues were deferred to sub-committees. Our position is that, there should not be any issue that we defer to sub-committees, all these issues must be dealt with all at once.
We just want the employers to come to the party, narrow the gap and hopefully settle without a strike or lockout.
We reject conditional offers,
We reject employers’ response of “NO MANDATE”
We still maintain, as mandated by our members, that our biggest problem is the Main Collective Agreement which has contradictory clauses, each clause is subject to interpretation, subjecting enforcement department to limited powers.
With the attitude that we’ve been observing in the past 13-14 weeks, a strike is the only option left available. We are very optimistic that something positive will come out in the 18th-19th August 2026 dispute meeting.
After the meeting, as from the 20th reports will be given about the issues discussed and developments thereafter.
Statement is issued by Mxolisi Hlengwa, the Deputy General Secretary
For more information contact:
Gcobisa Kelembe
Media Officer
082 5060 289