PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Irvin Jim, has announced that the union is making preparations for a national strike in the bus passenger sector, and it is highly probable that the strike will commence before the Easter long weekend.
“The national bus strike looms unless employers put a meaningful offer on the table,” he said.
According to the union, the South African Bus Employers Association (SABEA) and the Commuters Bus Employers Organisation (COBEA), who represent the employers, are responsible for provoking the strike.
“We have been trying to negotiate with employers since January through the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council SARPBAC, and we declared a dispute in February, but employers are stubbornly refusing to give workers a meaningful increase,” Jim added.
The union says what triggered the strike is the employer “refusing to negotiate health insurance benefits.”
The union has
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
