Gautrain refutes claim that it is doing away with housing allowances

Bombela Operating Company which operates the Gautrain has denied that it is scrapping housing allowances for workers as alleged by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

Last week, NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the company also wants to abolish the housing allowance which enables workers to access housing.

GAUTRAIN DENIES SCRAPPING HOUSING ALLOWANCE

As previously reported by The South African, Hlubi-Majola said without the housing allowance workers would not be able to buy their own homes.

“Gautrain proposed removing it so it can be built into the wages, but our members reject this,” she said.

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Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said Bombela Operating Company and NUMSA had agreed upfront to have three wage negotiation sittings, but NUMSA abandoned the negotiations after the second sitting.

Nayager said the third sitting has since been agreed for the 23 June and the Company remains committed to engage with NUMSA in good faith to find an amicable solution to the impasse.

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STAFF CARDS ALLOWING WORKERS TO TRAVEL FOR FREE

On the issue of free transportation to and from work the Gautrain spokesperson said she can confirm that this demand relates to less than ten employees based at the depot and it has no impact on operational employees who conduct their duties at stations and on trains.

Hlubi-Majola had said the company wants to do away with staff cards that allow workers to travel to and from work for free. She said the decision is outrageous because their members cannot afford to pay to use the Gautrain because it is really expensive, hence the need for staff cards.

This benefit has reportedly been in place since 2013 and workers were allowed to utilise the train without paying.

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