It is not yet clear if Buscor employees will finally go on strike following their still unresolved demand for salary increment.
This is cause for concern for thousands of commuters who are uncertain on what will happen to them during their planned Easter journeys to different parts of the country.
“We haven’t yet reached any agreement. So far employers have been served with notices to strike, meaning that if no agreement is reached till late today (Tuesday) workers will go on strike,” says Mr Vuyani Ndlovu, Buscor’s spokesperson.
Also read: Buscor deny rumours of wage strike in Mbombela
“The question of transporting worshippers to their various places of worship will depend on the decisions to be taken in today’s engagement,” adds Ndlovu.
Initially, union representatives demanded a 30 percent wage increase which they reduced to 20 percent and then to 15 percent increase. The employer has all along been offering a seven percent increase, which was increased to 7,5 percent last week and the nine percent offered on Tuesday ( April 11).
Also read: Buscor offering only 7,5 per cent increase to drivers
Mr Million Gama from Numsa says: “We are still not sure as to what will happen because lately Buscor had asked to talk to employees outside the bargaining counsel and we don’t know whether they want to comply to our demands or not,” he said.
Gama revealed that it has been hard for unions to take a new mandate because the employer was still firmly standing at his offer of 7,5 percent for weeks now. “So far, nothing has been negotiated with us about the 9 percent increase, we only heard about it from the media,” he says.
Gama added that the employees were still prepared to listen to their employers and find amicable solutions to their demands.
