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Your Road Freight Partner
Understanding the collective bargaining process that shapes the future of the road freight and logistics industry.
NBCRFLI facilitates collective bargaining between employer organizations and trade unions to establish fair working conditions across the industry.
Seven parties come together to begin negotiations
Negotiations typically take about four months to complete
Final agreement is published in the Government Gazette
The road freight and logistics industry that drives our economy
Everything you need to know about industry wage negotiations and the collective bargaining process.
A year prior to the expiry of a current agreement, parties to the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) come together to negotiate a new agreement. The current agreement expires in February 2027. Parties start by drawing up a Negotiation Protocol which seeks to guide parties on what they need to do and expect during the negotiation process.
Workers and unions representing the industry workforce
There are seven parties to Council involved in the negotiation process, namely the Road Freight Association (RFA), the National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA), and Consolidated Employers Organisation (CEO) as well as four unions – the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU), the Motor Transport Workers' Union (MTWU), Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union (TASWU), and National Union of Metalwokers of South Africa (NUMSA).
Prior to negotiations, the parties to the Council develop their "wish lists" regarding the contents of the agreement and the conditions of employment it stipulates.
The Council administration staff then schedules meetings in terms of Council's constitution. The constitution states that there should be three rounds of negotiations held.
The Agreement is finally published in the Government Gazette and becomes law within the transport industry. The Agreement is also binding on non-parties, if extended by the Minister, so that everyone is covered within the industry.
In terms of the Negotiations Protocol, the parties follow a structured process:
Council provides information requested in the Protocol
A facilitated workshop follows
Parties seek mandate from constituencies
Needs are exchanged between parties
Formal negotiations begin
Deadlocks handled by accredited commissioners
Section 64 of LRA invoked if needed
Successful negotiations benefit all industry workers
The following needs are considered to ensure fair outcomes for all stakeholders:
The negotiations typically take about four months, excluding submission to the Department of Labour.
A signed agreement published in the Government Gazette and enforceable by the Council.
Creates certainty and stability by establishing clear expectations for all industry participants.
Dive deeper into various collective agreements and related resources.