Johannesburg-based Transnet stuck to its original 11% wage offer, but the new deal also provided more workers with medical insurance, gives 1,000 contract workers full-time jobs, entitles new workers to a bonus and gives each worker a one-time payment of Rand1,000 ($126), according to unions.
While the United Transport and Allied Trade Union, Transnet’s biggest union, reportedly favoured the deal, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), the smaller union representing Transnet workers, had indicated that it might not accept the deal.
Even if the deal is accepted and workers return to their posts, it is expected that it will take weeks to clear the backlog at South Africa’s ports.
The strike prompted Anglo American, Xstrata and the world’s top steelmaker ArcelorMittal to declare force majeure on the supply of iron ore, ferrochrome and steel respectively, while Transnet declared force majeure on coal destined for export.
