Johannesburg — Spoornet and the South Africa Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu), the parastatal's majority union, reached an agreement yesterday after a two-week strike.

"The strike is off and workers will return to work within the next 24 hours," said Satawu deputy general secretary Johnson Gamede.

The strike involved only Satawu, since the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the SA Logistics, Services and Allied Workers' Union (Salstaff) signed an agreement with Spoornet that Satawu did not agree with. Salstaff and Utata agreed to a 7,5% increase effective from April 16.

Satawu settled on a 7,5% increase, back-dated to April 1. The agreement made provision for an increase in the house ownership assistance subsidy to 10% of salary. An increase in the Transmed medical aid fund subsidy to 9% of salary was also agreed to.

This agreement differs from that signed by the other unions in that it would include the lowest paid workers, said Gamede.

Spoornet spokesman Mike Asefovitz said the settlement would see Spoornet's services return to normal.