Bus passenger sector facing full-blown strike

A full-blown industry strike is imminent in the bus passenger sector. Fin24 reports that this is the warning from National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim who announced that the union formally declared a dispute with the Bus Passengers Council. ‘The CCMA will be facilitating mediation on the 6th of March, after which a strike certificate may be issued. A full blown industry strike is now imminent because employers care more about profits than people.’ The report says Numsa is demanding a wage increase of 30% across the board and also a living wage of R15 000 a month for all workers. However, employers in the bus passenger sector have responded with an offer of just 4.5%. ‘The response from employers is alarming, given that several bus transportation companies are guilty of abusing the basic conditions of employment,’ claimed Jim. He alleged that companies such as Autopax, Buscor, PUTCO, Greyhound, Intercape, Golden Arrow and Mgqibelo expect drivers to work 18- hour days ‘but only pay them for half of that’. Jim said that Numsa members are also not being compensated for overtime and working on public holidays.