FEDUSA Supports the Cash In Transit Protest Actions on 11 June 2018
23 May 2018
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has welcomed the Motor Transport Workers Union’s (MTWU) call for an urgent meeting to be held with the management of the major Cash-In-Transit (CIT) companies, Fidelity Cash Services, G4S Cash Solutions and SBV to be held either on 28 or 30 May 2018 said Dennis George, FEDUSA General Secretary. MTWU is the majority trade union in the CIT industry that operates under the jurisdiction of the National Bargaining Council for Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI).
The steady rise in reported heists alongside the increased levels of these organised and calculated attacks, equally places the South African Police Services (SAPS) officials, members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) in the line of fire. We cannot continue to risk the livelihood of our members and society at large, as these brazen attacks are carried out in both commercial and residential areas where ATM’S and convenience stores alike are located, argued George.
FEDUSA and our affiliated unions affected by the attacks, will have a national protest action on 11 June 2018. The protest action is directed against government and employers who have failed to protect CIT Security Officers, SAPS members and the general public against criminal syndicates and organised criminals. FEDUSA believes that the cash-in-transit pandemic is totally understated, as the statistics show that in 2014, there were 180 cash-in-transit incidents. The cash-in-transit incidents in 2017 increased by a whopping 105%, to 370 attacks, in just three years. The main reason for the extreme increase could be attributed to the fact that cash in transit vehicles are seen as “soft and easy targets” due to under-investment in strong security measures and that the security companies focuses primarily on maximising profits.
The leadership of FEDUSA and MTWU identified several weaknesses in the safety and security of the CIT industry, being the key reasons for the radical increase of cash-in-transit incidents:
- Weak and out-dated vehicle design.
- The low number of CIT Security Officers on vehicles.
- The weak firepower and out-dated equipment of CIT Security Officers.
- Lack of training for CIT Security Officers.
- Low CIT Security Officers moral, high staff turnover and the introduction of unfair disciplinary action.
- The lack of focus on general safety precautions.
- The lack of support and implementation of MTWU submissions to various Authorities such as:
- Minister of Safety and Security
- Minister of Police
- Minister of Transport
- Governor of the South Africa Reserve Bank
- NEDLAC
The situation has a reached critical point that FEDUSA and our affiliates can no longer tolerate the situation. Our members and their families demand urgent protection from their employers and government. Nationwide protest action will take place on 11 June 2018, where CIT Security Officers will down tools and participate in protect action. We will also be calling on our members from the SAPS and various Community Policing Forum’s to participate in the events to demand concrete and progressive measures to deal with the matter. It is important to note that ATMs must be loaded daily, and a one-day strike will create scarcities of cash money, a two-day strike will cause large sums of cash piling up with retailers and a three day strike will cause an economic crisis.
In the light of the above-mentioned developments, FEDUSA believes that the salaries of CIT Security Officers that averages about R11 000 per month should be increased to R20 000 per month because of the high risks associated with the job.
FEDUSA has accepted an invitation from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police to participate in the special public hearings on 13 June 2018. However, the time for talk is over and drastic measures must be implemented urgently, concluded George.
Ends
[622 words]
FEDUSA is the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa and represents a diverse membership from a variety of sectors in industry. See www.fedusa.org.za for more information.
For interviews please contact:
| Dennis George
FEDUSA General Secretary 084 805 1529 |
Mdumiseni E Mabaso
MTWU General Secretary 082 823 9315 |
| Frank Nxumalo
FEDUSA Media Officer 072 637 8096 |
Motaung H
MTWU Spokesperson 082 522 6727 |
