What is the gap between you now?
The employer wanted to give workers 0%; we wanted 12%. The CCMA recommended 6%.
Will you accept?
We're getting a mandate from our members. We're trying to get them to understand the impact on the economy and that we might lose public sympathy if we reject this.
Is the strike likely to end today?
Not likely. Maybe Monday.
But 6% is acceptable to the leadership?
We’re not saying that. We’re going to our structures for a mandate, but will explain to them that if we reject an offer that is just 1.5% short of inflation, we might lose public sympathy.
Do you think you already have?
Not yet. But I think if we drag it out longer, especially with this offer on the table, the public will say we’re being irresponsible regarding the economy.
How will it benefit your members if more ships stop using our ports because of your action?
Our ports are world-class. There are no ports that can compete in the southern hemisphere. Which ports will they use? The market mustn’t use wishy-washy arguments to try to push workers. But workers are not irresponsive to Africa depending on a functioning South Africa with efficient ports.
Aren’t you in denial about the reality that ships are already bypassing our ports for those such as Maputo and Walvis Bay, with faster turnaround times?
I’m not in denial, I’m saying it’s a contingency to keep their business going. But when our ports are operating optimally, they’re unmatched. So they will come back to us. We are in talks with Transnet to try to improve the tempo and find more efficient ways of making the ports operate. It’s just that we’re having this impasse over wages.
Do you accept that your strike has badly impacted mining and agriculture, our biggest foreign-exchange earners?
Yes. It’s impacted the entire South African economy. That is why we wanted to avert the strike. We wrote to the president at an early stage of the negotiations and to comrade Pravin Gordhan for intervention. So we didn’t recklessly go on strike, we tried all avenues to avoid it
While demanding double-digit increases?
Intervention would have pushed the employer to give us a progressive wage increase, as the CCMA has done. We have moved from 0% to 6% because of the intervention of the commissioners.
Not before doing a huge amount of damage to the economy?
Any strike action that happens when the economy is volatile will be detrimental to it. But we must not take away the responsibility of the employer to look after employees so inflation does not erode their livelihoods.
You say you received expert advice before going on strike. What was it?
That South Africa cannot afford a strike.
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