TMG Digital reports that thirty minutes before an arranged meeting with labour minister Mildred Oliphant on Friday morning transportation giants Translux and City-to-City reached a wage agreement.  

According to union sources‚ the agreement is for an 8.5% salary increase for all drivers.  This is below the 9% offer made by employers on Wednesday‚ which agitated unions called a “disgrace”.  SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) spokesperson Zanele Sabela said that it was “unfortunate” that the two Prasa-owned bus companies had undercut the wage negotiations by reaching an agreement with bosses.  “The agreement was made at shop level‚ and it still needs to be ratified by union leadership‚” she said.  The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) released a statement shortly after the agreement reiterating that only its general secretary could sign an agreement on behalf of the union.  “We only negotiate through the Bargaining Council‚" said a Numsa spokesperson.  Translux buses filled with passengers started leaving Johannesburg’s Park Station barely an hour after the agreement was made.

• Read this report by Aron Hyman and Justin Deffenbacher in full at TimesLive
• Read too, Numsa insists no deal struck to end bus strike, at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page