SATAWU notes with reservation the action taken by PRASA in firing the Metrorail train driver

The South African Transport & Allied Workers' Union is disappointed that PRASA failed to engage with us before going public in handling the case of the dismissed train driver. In fact, the decision by Mr Lucky Montana, the Group CEO of PRASA, Mother Company of Metrorail to dismiss the train driver without consultation is an example of the disdain and arrogance with which the company has been treating the Union and employee in this matter.

The behaviour displayed by PRASA management in dismissing our member is reflective of their intentions to maintain and perpetuate the old apartheid Bantu unfair labour practices consciously or unconsciously so.  

We believe the right protocols should have been respected before this decision, and a process involving labour put into place in order to examine the matter thoroughly and carefully. According to the Labour Relations Act, an employee has the right to be heard and make his/her presentation irrespective of nature of the misconduct. This union has a mandate from the dismissed train driver to pursue this matter on his behalf.

SATAWU has been consistently calling on PRASA to improve on :

• Monitoring driver work related issues such as fatigue, stress levels,
• Metrorail driver training programmes
• Replacing the current old infrastructure
• Improving working conditions
• Safety procedures.

SATAWU will always defend its members against any form of unfair labour practices and subscribes President's drive to create decent jobs and to save those that are currently threatened.

Statement issued by SATAWU Secretariat, May 27 2011

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