Johnathan Paoli
THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) on Sunday welcomed the signing of a two-year wage agreement in the bus passenger sector backdated to 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2026, the union said in a statement.
NUMSA General-Secretary Irvin Jim said the deal is a reminder of why trade unions play an important role in improving the conditions for workers and their families.
“Besides securing across the board wage increases, we also finally secured the burning demand for bosses to contribute to primary health care cover for workers,” Jim said.
He said negotiating better conditions and wages for workers is at the heart of the work that NUMSA does.
Benefits like medical aid, paid paternity or maternity leave, and extra pay for weekends and public holidays, the 45 hour work week as well as many other benefits and protections, Jim said exist because of the negotiating power of unions, which comes from working class unity.
The settlement comes after NUMSA said it had reached a deadlocked with employers and opted for a conciliation, which was held under the auspices of the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC), to try and bring parties closer together in order to avert a national bus strike.
Below is a breakdown of the agreement:
1. The union secured the demand for primary health care which was a burning demand from workers. Up until now, the union said bosses were unwilling to offer any kind of medical aid or medical insurance.
Affinity Reef is the primary healthcare cover for employees. The employer contribution is not to exceed R221 per month. This benefit will be implemented on the first day of the month, following the month in which the agreement is extended by the Minister of Employment and Labour.
2. The union has secured an across-the-board increase of 5% on the rate of pay which will be implemented from the 1st of April 2024 until 31 March 2025. In the second year of the agreement an increase of 6.5% on the base rate of pay will be implemented from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026.
3. From 1 April 2024 the minimum hourly rate will increase to 48,15 and from 1 April 2025 it will increase to R51, 28 until March 2026.
4. Travel allowance will increase to R786, 48 travel effective from 1 April 2024. It will
increase to R837, 60 in the second year of the agreement on the 1st of April 2025 until
31 March 2026.
5. The dual driver allowance has been increased to R476,36 for the first year effective 1 April 2024 and in the second year it will increase to R507, 32 on the 1st April 2025 until 31 March 2026.
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