ANA reports that the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on Sunday expressed the hope that a new wage offer made in the road passenger bargaining council would break the stalemate and end the countrywide bus strike.  

The organisation urged parties to finalise consultations speedily to end the protracted industrial action.  The SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC) and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) have proposed a settlement of 8.75% for the first year and 8.25% for the second year of a two-year deal.  Workers had been on strike for nearly a month, demanding a 9% wage hike.  Sanco spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said commuters could not afford any further postponement of the resolution of the strike.  “It will take months before some of them recover from the effect of the strike which has eroded their meagre resources and left them high and dry,” he indicated.

• Read this report in full at The Citizen

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