End in sight for crippling South Africa port strikes

The walkout that began on 10 May spread as over 50,000 workers reacted to a rejection by the country’s largest rail, port and freight company – Transnet – of a 15% pay rise.

The strike by members of the South African transport workforce included SA’s Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) as well as the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the South African Railways and Harbour Workers’ Union, bringing port operations to a standstill.

Containers have been particularly affected by the strike, and although some bulk goods were still being moved at various ports Durban was reputedly immobilised. Jeffrey Landsberg of Commodore Research told Port Strategy that stockpiles of thermal coal at Richards Bay coal terminal have allowed operations and coal exports to remain largely unaffected, although iron ore exports from Saldanha Bay have been impacted.

Workers now look set to accept an 11% pay rise with a new offer including a one-off payment to all bargaining sector employees.