Thousands in BCM left stranded as bus drivers strike

ABOUT 7 000 bus commuters had to endure long queues at taxi ranks and other forms of transport as Buffalo City Metro’s Mayibuye bus service shut its doors yesterday in line with a nationwide bus strike.

This comes after talks between employers and workers’ unions reached a dead end.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and Tirisano Transport Workers’ Union rejected a 7% wage increase offer from their bosses and demanded 12% across the board.

Other demands include:

● Dual bus drivers be paid in full for the time they spend on a bus, and not just the time they spend behind the wheel;

● Subsistence allowances for long distance drivers; and

● Payment of full night shift allowances in compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).

Mayibuye Transport Corporation spokeswoman Bongi Solwandle said they had suspended their operations to protect the safety of their commuters.

“Commuter safety is our priority. We will resume operations once everything is finalised,” she said.

Yesterday morning taxi ranks in the province opened as early as 4am to accommodate a flood of commuters.

Commuter Bulelwa Mgojo, 54, said she uses a Mayibuye bus to travel between Mdantsane’s NU16 and Frere Hospital daily.

“I took two taxis today, something that I do not usually do. “Taxi prices are too high for someone who is used to travelling with a bus.”

She receives discounted coupons for buses since she is an elderly person.

Numsa regional secretary Mziyanda Twani said bus owners, among them the Commuter Bus Employers Organisation and SA Bus Employers Association, called for an urgent Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) session scheduled to take place today in Johannesburg.

The negotiations have been before the CCMA since January.

“We believe employers can offer better than the 7% they have put on the table,” said Twani.

Eastern Cape department of transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie urged employers and unions to “reach an agreement soon so that we can continue to work and ensure safer transportation on our roads”. —