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07/05/2010

Transport workers in South Africa set for strike action

South Africa rail

Some 50,000 workers in the state owned freight group Transnet are set to go on strike next week. A total shutdown of all South Africa’s ports, freight rail operations, rail engineering works and fuel pipelines is expected.

Workers at Transnet, represented by the ITF-affiliated South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union in conjunction with the South African Railways and Harbour Workers' Union will go on strike on 10 May.

The unions, representing the workforce at six divisions of the company, went into dispute in early April after negotiations and conciliation over an annual wage increase and employment conditions failed.

The unions’ key demands focus on a number of areas including: a 15 per cent pay increase - the company has so far offered eight per cent; the immediate permanent employment of all 5000 fixed-term contract workers, particularly at Transnet Capital Projects, which constructs and maintains infrastructure and a three month maximum timeframe for the extension of a medical aid subsidy to additional service providers.

A range of issues have been fuelling the dispute, such as: the excessive salaries and incentive bonuses paid to top managers - of the total bonuses paid last year, 51 per cent went to 4,500 managers and 49 per cent was shared between 49,000 workers and the fact that the additional pressure on workers as a result of Transnet’s cutting employees from 200,000 to 50,000 has not led to fairer remuneration.

A joint union statement on the strike said: “We want to put on record that going on strike is not an easy decision to make. The absence of a decent wage offer has forced the unions into this position. The public and media must look to Transnet to resolve the impasse. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.”

A parallel dispute is running in urban passenger rail; the union is going into conciliation with Metrorail today. If the dispute is not resolved concurrent strike action could be possible.

Posted by Running Staff Solapur at 5/07/2010 10:01:00 pm Labels:

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PME Due Date

Master Circular No. 25



Copy of Railway Board’s letter No. 69/H/3/11 dated 06.12.1974



Subject: Implementation of the Recommendations of the Visual Sub-Committee.



6. Periodical re-examination of serving Railway Employees:



6.l. In order to ensure the continued ability of Railway employees in Classes A l, A 2, A 3, B l and B 2 to discharge their duties with safety, they will be required to appear for re-examination at the following stated intervals throughout their service as indicated below:



6.1.1. Classes A l, A 2 and A 3 —At the termination of every period of three years, calculated from the date of appointment until they attain the age of 45 years, and thereafter annually until the conclusion of their service.



Note: (l) The staff in categories A l, A 2 and A 3 should be sent for special medical examination in the interest of safety under the following circumstances unless they have been under the treatment of a Railway Medical Officer.



(a) Having undergone any treatment or operation for eye trouble irrespective of the duration of sickness.



(b) Absence from duty for a period in excess of 90 days.



(2) If any employee in medical category A has been periodically medically examined at any time within one year prior to his attaining the age of 45, his next medical examination should be held one year from the due date of the last medical examination and subsequent medical examination annually thereafter.



If, however, such an employee has been medically examined, at any time earlier, than one year prior to his attaining the age of 45, his next medical examination should be held on the date he attains the age of 45 and subsequent medical examination annually thereafter.



Ammendment: It was ammended in 1993 as below



Age Group PME Due



Age 00-45 every 4yrs



Age 45-55 every 2yrs



Age 55-60 every year
Details:-
As per Rly Bd's Guideline of Medical Exam issued vide LNo. 88/H/5/12 dated 24-01-1993

a) PME would be done at the termination of every period of 4 years from date of appointment / Initial medical Exam till the date of attainment of age of 45 years, every 2 years upto 55 years & there after annual till retirement.
b) Employees who has been periodically examined at any time within 2years prior to his attaining the age of 45years would be examined after 2years from the date of last PME & subsequent PME for every 2years upto 55years age.Of

NRMU 4 you
SMLokhande





6.1.2. Classes B-1 and B-2—On attaining the age of 45 years, and thereafter at the termination of every period of five years.