Today's Labour News

TimesLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is threatening to embark on a strike in the bus sector ahead of the Easter weekend if employers do not put a “meaningful” wage offer on the table.

The union is negotiating with employers represented by the SA Bus Employers Association and the Commuter Bus Employer's Organisation. On Monday, the union proposed an urgent meeting with employers, preferably within the next 48 hours, and indicated the “ball is in their court if they wish to avert a disaster”. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “We have been trying to negotiate with employers since January through the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council and we declared a dispute in February, but employers are stubbornly refusing to give workers a meaningful increase.” She added that the employers' refusal to negotiate health insurance benefits had prompted the potential of a strike. According to Numsa, the employers want the issue of health insurance (or primary healthcare as it is referred to in the proposed agreement) to be dealt with at a company or plant level, and not at the National Bargaining Forum. Workers in the sector apparently do not have medical aid or insurance. Numsa said the only official proposal on the table was the mediators' proposal which includes a two-year agreement from April 2023 to 31 March 2025 for a 7% increase for year one and year two on the minimum wage and all employees receiving a 7% increase on all allowances for two years. Numsa has, however, rejected this proposal.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phathu Luvhengo at SowetanLive
• Read too, Numsa bus strike looms ahead of hectic Easter travel period, at City Press
• En ook, Busstaking dreig voor Paasnaweek, by Maroela Media

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page