Bus firms brake at 10% pay hike bid

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is threatening a nationwide strike if employers in the bus sector do not agree to a proposed 10% salary increase across the board.

Numsa has declared a dispute against employers at the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council.

The union said it participated in the first round of wage talks from 5-9 February.

According to Numsa, among the bus companies affected by the negotiations are Putco, Bojanala, Algoa Bus and Great North Transport.

Among Numsa’s demands are primary health care, full compulsory health care for all workers subject to qualifying exemptions, with employer contributing 50% and worker contributing 50%.

Numsa also wants an increase in the allowance for the double driver from R450 to R900.

“Drivers do on average 18 trips per month, which then represents about R25 per trip.

“During the course of negotiations, we reduced our demand from 15% to 10%,” the union said.

Numsa is negotiating with the South African Bus Employers Association and the Commuters Bus Employers Association.

“We want a one-year agreement. If the employer wants a multiyear agreement, they have to put a good offer on the table,” Numsa said.

According to Numsa, the employers were not happy with the demands that the workers were making, despite the fact that the unions had given motivation for these demands.

“For example, they are only offering a conditional 4% increase and they demanded the unions drop all other demands.

“They tried to persuade us to extend the first round of wage talks, but we have rejected this proposal. The current agreement is going to expire on 31 March, therefore, we have no choice but to act with speed to try and resolve this round of wage talks,” the union said.

Numsa and other unions have called a meeting of shop stewards today after the union declared a dispute.