Bus strike set to intensify after talks deadlock

THE national bus strike is set to intensify as unions accuse employers of not being willing to come to the negotiation table to resolve the impasse.

The unions have vowed to not back down on their demands.

“This is because employers in the bus sector have declared war on commuters. They did not attend the mediation with the goal of resolving the strike. The only offer they are willing to engage in is the same mediator’s offer which was presented to us in the last round of mediation!” the unions said in a joint statement.

“They have shown workers and the commuters at large the middle finger. Their refusal to engage meaningfully in wage talks demonstrates that they are dishonest and disingenuous and have displayed nothing but contempt for workers and the community.”

The unions claim the employers have refused to meet them halfway during the mediation process.

“We have made different proposals and have offered compromises on our position‚ but the employers have steadfastly refused to budge‚” said the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union‚ the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa‚ the Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa‚ the Transport and Omnibus Workers Union and Tirisano.

The unions have also accused employers of lying mediation talks.

“They claim they never engaged on an offer of 9% for the first year and 9.5% for the second year, which is blatantly false. They made that offer last week at the mediation‚ but by the end of the talks they withdrew the offer.

“The only offer on the table now is an offer proposed by mediators of 8% for the first year and 8.5% for the second year . . . We reject this offer with the contempt it deserves.” — about their role in