ANA reports that unions in the bus sector said on Friday they would soon embark on mass action across the country, accusing employers of refusing to engage meaningfully in wage talks to end a strike now in its third week.  

Workers affiliated to Satawu, Numsa, the Transport and Omnibus Workers Union, the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA and the Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union commenced industrial action last month over wage increases.  In a statement, Numsa indicated that the unions would meet on Friday to finalise details of mass action and protests in various parts of the country.  It added that unions had rejected the current offer on the table of an 8% wage increase for the first year and 8.5% for the second year of a two-year deal.  Among other grievances, unions were angry that alternate drivers on long bus trips were only paid for the time they were actually behind the wheel, and they have accused bus companies of subverting the law by refusing to pay night shift allowances.

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