Taxi regulation bid welcomed

2009-06-12 14:50

Johannesburg - The SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) supports government efforts to regulate the taxi industry and will push for the unionisation of the sector, it said on Friday.

"Whilst the taxi bosses continue to criticise and frustrate government's efforts this is only intended to avoid operating within a legal and regulated framework where the laws of the jungle, violence and deregulation no longer apply," said Satawu general secretary Randall Howard.

This follows a kick-start to talks between the taxi industry and government on Thursday to address the issues including the Bus Rapid Transit system, licensing and regulation, taxi recapitalisation and legislation affecting taxis.

Howard said a Satawu delegation was at the talks which took place at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Taxi ranks as workplaces

"As Satawu we were persuaded to give the taxi bosses a chance to be educated about labour legislation and collective bargaining," he said.

"... Satawu is going to intensify its campaign to organise in taxi ranks as workplaces until the mindset of taxi bosses change so that exploited workers can have real access to rights and improve their conditions of employment."

He urged labour movements to "target large associations for prosecution" should the industry fail to comply with the country's labour laws.

"The taxi industry have not embraced the new value system which is enshrined in the country's Constitution and in the LRA [Labour Relations Act] with regard to freedom of association," he said, adding that the taxi industry remained hostile to trade unions.

"Satawu will also engage the newly appointed minister of transport to consider making the granting of operating licences subject to compliance with all relevant labour legislation as a prerequisite lest we remain in this anti union, violent and deregulated environment for another 15 years."

- SAPA