Bus Drivers’ Nationwide Strike on Wednesday
Thousands of Golden Arrow and MyCiTi commuters have been left stranded on Wednesday as bus drivers are staging a nationwide strike. Commuters have been urged to use alternative forms of transport. It comes as ongoing wage negotiations with several labour unions, including the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU), and the SA Bus Employer’s Association […]
Thousands of Golden Arrow and MyCiTi commuters have been left stranded on Wednesday as bus drivers are staging a nationwide strike. Commuters have been urged to use alternative forms of transport.
It comes as ongoing wage negotiations with several labour unions, including the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU), and the SA Bus Employer’s Association and Commuter Bus Employer’s Organisation deadlocked last month.
In a press statement on Monday, SATAWU said that it and four other unions represented by the South African Road Passengers Bargaining Council (SARPBC), has given employers a 60-hour notice of its intention to strike. It noted that workers were still “willing to convene with employers” this week.
Wage negotiations began in late January, but deadlocked in March. The groups then entered into mediation talks at the CCMA. The mediation process was unsuccessful and the CCMA declared a 30-day “cooling- off period” before strike action could begin.
Unions are demanding a 12% wage increase and are calling for improved working conditions. The employers are currently offering a 7.5% wage increase.
Golden Arrow, which is not directly involved with negotiations, said in a press statement that weekly and monthly clipcards affected by the strike would be extended to when the strike ends.
The City of Cape Town on Monday confirmed in a statement that its MyCiTi services would also be suspended from midnight on Wednesday “to ensure the safety of commuters and personnel for the duration of the strike.”
The City has recommended that commuters carpool. It said it was anticipating increased use of minibus taxis. Officials have asked private businesses to be flexible with work hours considering the inconvenience to commuters.
Published originally on GroundUp
Several commuters in PE have described the strike as frustrating. Algoa bus company drivers also striking #SABCNews #busstrike
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) April 12, 2017
#BusStrike Taxi drivers are making use of a section of the bus terminus to load passengers. Lines longer than usual. XK pic.twitter.com/zUnm4gLkMZ
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/Artii_M/status/852045257004916739
Coincidence that #BusStrike takes place on same day as #OppositionMarch? If they transport the masses for Good Friday, then maybe sabotage?
— MMGontse (@MMGontse) April 12, 2017
Commuters rushing to get inside taxis. They're quickly filling up. #BusStrike pic.twitter.com/1jh7ltccJc
— Athi Mtongana (@AthiMtongana) April 12, 2017
Mitchell's Plain commuters waiting in line to get a taxi to the CBD this morning. #BusStrike @IOL @TheCapeArgus pic.twitter.com/F7ErKzBMWS
— Theo 🏳️🌈 (@thelionmutters) April 12, 2017