Numsa ‘on the verge’ of passenger bus strike after continued deadlock | Fin24

Striking workers arrived at Clover’s Clayville operation on Thursday and attacked security personnel.

• The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is on the verge of holding a strike in the passenger bus sector after a continued deadlock in wage talks.
• Numsa secretary general Irvin Jim said a strike certificate was issued earlier in March and the union was finalising its picketing rules. 
• Numsa is demanding that the lowest category of employees in the sector have their wages hiked from around R7800 to R12 000 a month.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it is on the verge of holding a strike in the passenger bus sector as negotiations with employers have been deadlocked since January.

The union declared a dispute in the passenger bus wage talks at the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC), referring the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).

At SARPBAC, workers are represented by Numsa, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), and the Transport and Allied Workers Union, while employers are represented by the South African Bus Employers Association and the Consumer Bus Employers Organisation.

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.

READ | Numsa wants R4 200 wage hike for lowest paid bus drivers

Numsa secretary general Irvin Jim said in a statement that the outcomes of the mediation failed as employers “refused to budge” and the union insisted on the certificate to strike which was issued earlier this month. 

“We are currently observing the mandatory 30-day cooling-off period, after which we can serve the 48-hours notice to strike. We have also concluded picketing rules. The cooling off period will end on 13 April which is two days before Good Friday weekend,” said Jim.

Jim said the union did everything it could to avoid a strike but that the employers made this “impossible”.

“We are calling on all Numsa locals and regions to hold urgent depot meetings, local general meetings, and regional shop stewards’ councils to mobilize, agitate our members for the eventuality that seems certain which is an industry-wide complete shutdown,” Jim said. 

READ | Passenger bus strike threat as Numsa declares dispute over wages

Jim said Numsa rejected the offer from employers, saying it would create a “two-tier labour market” where some workers are paid more than others for the same work.

“This kind of situation always creates problems in the long term, and often results in those earning more, being retrenched in favor of those who earn less,” he said.

Fin24 reached out to the employer associations for comment.

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