Strikers say Ramos's absence is arrogance

Striking employees of Transnet have described as arrogant the absence of Maria Ramos, the Transnet CEO from the headquarters to receive their memorandum of grievances today.

Thousands of members of three trade unions marched to Transnet headquarters at Johannesburg's Carlton Centre to hand over the memorandum. They left without handing over their memorandum to Ramos, who was in Cape Town. Randall Howard, the Satawu spokesperson, says Ramos' actions is indicative of the attitude that they have experienced from Transnet management for some time now and essentially this vindicates what the unions have said about the arrogance of management.

Her business
Howard says Ramos knew that major unions in Transnet are going on strike and as CEO she should have it her business to be available. He says it was not a very wise thing for her to do today. "It will intensify our efforts to mobilise because workers are extremely angry as a result of her absence today."

Willie Madisha, the Cosatu president, has raised the possibility of calling out all Cosatu affiliates to strike in sympathy with Transnet employees. Madisha says what they want to see happen is a resolution of this problem as a matter of urgency, failing which of course, they will make sure that the other 21 unions of Cosatu look into solidarity actions.

Alec Erwin, the public enterprises minister, has rejected the union's claims that he has ruled himself out as a role player in finding a solution to the dispute between Transnet and trade unions.