Paul Thlabang, the union’s deputy regional secretary said the Samwu would hold a press conference on 25 March to give clarity to the Rea Vaya and Johannesburg Roads Agency strikes. Samwu Greater Johannesburg Region is representing 158 employees dismissed by PioTrans/Litsamasio following the Rea Vaya strike.
A hearing was held under the banner of the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council in Woodmead after Rea Vaya commuters were left stranded as bus drivers went on an ‘unexpected’ strike in the Johannesburg CBD, leaving their busses blocking streets on 2 February. Following the strikers’ dismissal, Piotrans spokesperson Dumisani Mntambo had said the majority of the striking drivers failed to appear before a disciplinary hearing. He said, “The company had made reasonable efforts to ensure that the notice to attend the hearing had been delivered to the employees, and further… [ensured] that the relevant trade union was notified of the matter at hand.
“Proceedings went ahead in absentia and a total of 158 drivers were found guilty of serious misconduct.”
Samwu has since sworn to fight the drivers dismissal. Thlabang said following the controversy and circumstances of the workers dismissal, the union would clarify the issues that many members of the community and media houses had been asking.
“Having noted a number of allegations that were raised against our members during the strike, the union strongly feels that it is important that we clarify the role that had been played by the employer leading up to the strike and dismissal of our members, and also to clear the controversy created by those who had been claiming to represent Samwu in the public domain,” Thlabang alleged.
He added that the union was very concerned about allegations that Piotrans was continuing to recruit employees through labour brokers and alleged that Samwu was aware that two agencies had been signed up. In a controversial statement, Thlabang alleged that it left the question of whether Piotrans was committed to resolving the dispute or not.
