THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is on the verge of holding a strike in the passenger bus sector after a continued deadlock in wage talks.
This after wage talks with employers in February at the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC) deadlocked and NUMSA lodged a dispute.
The union said there have been no meaningful wage increases in the bus passenger sector since 2020 and 2021.
NUMSA is demanding that the lowest category of employees in the sector have their wages hiked from around R7 800 to R12 000 a month.
The employer bodies at the bargaining council are offering a 2.5% increase to the newest employees.
NUMSA’s spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said employers were using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse for the lack of wage increases in the sector.
“The cooling-off period will end on the 13th of April which is two days before Good Friday Weekend. We have done everything we can to avoid a strike, but it seems very likely a nationwide bus passenger strike is unavoidable at this stage.” said Hlubi-Majola.
“We have no choice. We either submit to the demands of employers or fight. Submission is not an option for our members who have been denied meaningful increases, even though it is their sweat, and their labour which has carried this industry through the worst of the covid-19 pandemic.”
NUMSA’s demands for 2022 in the sector were as follows:
1. The lowest-paid worker must be moved up to R12 000 per month. Currently, the lowest earner gets approximately R7800.
2. Across the board (ATB) increases that include allowances for the two years NUMSA members were not getting ATB increases because of covid-19.
3. NUMSA demands a one-year agreement.
4. Industry medical aid which will cover all workers. Employers must contribute 80% and workers contribute 20%.
5. Housing allowance because currently there is none.
6. Less overtime.
7. Payment of night shift allowance in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (from 18h00 – 06h00).
- Inside Politics
