Bus strike over for Satawu but not Numsa

CAPE Town bus services expect to be back to normal today after the end of a nationwide bus strike, despite two unions rejecting the 9% wage agreement with employers.

The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa ( Numsa), the second- largest union in the transport industry, and the Transport and Services Workers Union (Taswu) refused the wage offer.

Just over a third ( 1 100) of Golden Arrow’s 3 000 drivers and 600 of MyCiTi’s 1 100-strong workforce belong to Numsa. It is unclear how many employees are Taswu members.

Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, said the MyCiTi service would resume today.

He said passengers should note there would be delays on some routes.

Public relations manager for Golden Arrow Bus Services Bronwen Dyke- Dreyer confirmed bus services had resumed.

“However, due to the Easter break and the unexpectedly speedy resolution of the strike, a skeleton staff will be on duty,” she said.

The national bus strike began on Wednesday, and affected both long- and short-distance buses. Yesterday, Minister of Labour Mildred Olifant and the overarching body in the bus industry, announced the strike, which had threatened to affect thousands of commuters over the Easter long-weekend, was over.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said the union rejected the “cheap propaganda of the secretary of the bargaining council who because Satawu, Tawusa, and Towu signed this agreement, decided that the strike was over. For our members, as Numsa, the strike continues.”

This week saw a string of meetings between the five unions – Numsa, Taswu, the Transport and Omnibus Workers Union (Towu), the Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Tawusa), and the South African Transport and allied Workers Union (Satawu) and employers.

According to South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council’s (SARPBAC) general secretary, Gary Wilson, three of the five unions agreed to the 9% wage increase across the board. Numsa acting spokeswoman Phakamani Hlubi questioned the legitimacy of the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council statement and stressed the strike was continuing for the union’s members.

“In relation to ( the bargaining council’s) statement, we were not engaged in the talks; we were not involved. We have not signed with anyone. As far as we are concerned the strike is still on until we reach a settlement.

“We are the second biggest union in this industry. Who are they (bus council)?”

Some of the demands listed by the unions included an end to long working hours without compensation, co-drivers being compensated for time spent not driving, overtime for working Sundays and public holidays, as well as a 15% wage increase.

The strike, led to thousands of commuters being stranded this week, with many having to seek alternative transport on Wednesday and Thursday.

Tamara Siziba and Sisipho Skeyi both said the strike hurt their pockets badly.

“We had not budgeted for this because we buy monthly bus tickets and because of the strike we had to fork out more money for taxis,” they said.

A Cape Town taxi rank marshal, Masizole Ntsiki, said they had to “bring in more taxis to accommodate the large number of passengers”.

“We were very busy and the rate at which we had to operate was not really safe because we had to rush in and out of ranks”. soyiso.maliti@inl.co.za asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za