The Citizen reports that following a picket at Gandhi Square in the Johannesburg central business district, Metrobus said on Monday that it was not in negotiations with the members of the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers’ Union of SA (Demawusa).
This was indicated after operations were disrupted yet again over an 18% wage increase and 27 other demands, including adjustments of salary disparity and long-service bonuses. As the strike entered its third week, Demawusa’s Deon Makhura said the initial 18% increase was just a starting point as they were opening a door for negotiations with the bus company. “Last week, we had a meeting with the management and they refused to come to the table and said that if we want to negotiate with them we should suspend the strike. After consultations with the workers, they have decided to continue with the strike until they hear us out,” said Makhura. However Metrobus spokesman Goodwill Shivuri said the meeting between the company and Demawusa was held to establish picketing rules. The union’s demands include a R150 per day transport allowance, a R300 cellphone allowance, a 14th cheque and a once-off payment of R15,000 for people who worked during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the bus service, more than 30,000 commuters have been left stranded due to the strike as services had to be withdrawn for safety reasons. “We are trying to make sure that we resume operations without Demawusa, because we have more than 98.6% of staff who have been on duty and ready to work,” said Shivuri.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Reitumetse Makwea at The Citizen
- Read too, Striking Metrobus drivers accuse management of arrogance with refusal to talk, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page