|
The strike at Metrobus continues into its second week today, with union members now set to examine an offer made by the company yesterday.
Striking Metrobus drivers are set to discuss the new offer tabled by Metrobus
THE ball is now in the court of striking Metrobus workers, who will scrutinise the salary increment proposal made by the company yesterday.
"We will consult with our members on the offer that Metrobus has made to us," said the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) spokesperson, Dumisani Langa.
Metrobus's offer, tabled to Samwu on 5 May, marked the start of serious salary increment negotiations, Langa said. "Since Wednesday last week [29 April, the second day of the strike], there was nothing substantial we could talk about. This offer allows us to negotiate."
Langa said the union's striking members would determine the direction that the negotiations would take. "Now the employees will say, How do we go forward with this offer?"
Declining to reveal the exact proposal that Metrobus made, Langa said it is not what they were demanding. "The offer is not quite closer to our demands, but it is not a bad offer."
Samwu is demanding an 11 percent salary increase for its members. The union says Metrobus employees should be moved to higher salary bands in accordance with number of years of employment with the company.
At present, some experienced drivers are on the same band as newly employed drivers, earning R7 021 a month.
Langa said the consultations with union members would determine the fate of the strike. "I cannot confirm that the strike will continue or end soon. It might happen that our members want us to negotiate further.
"It might happen that they want exactly what they initially demanded, therefore prolonging the strike."
Thousands of Metrobus commuters have had to rely on alternative transport during the week-long strike, while the company has lost thousands of rands daily, with its fleet of 476 buses parked in the depot.
Related stories:
|
