UPDATE: 14 July, 12.10
Samwu spokesman Phanuel Tshikovha said the decision followed an agreement by the municipal bus service provider to appoint an investigator to look into allegations against its acting managing director Lawrence Maqekoane.
The two parties further agreed that this be done within a week.
The bus services will be fully operational from 15 July.
UPDATE: 12 July, 10.50am
The Metrobus strike entered its fifth day as employees continued to picket outside the bus company’s head office.
The South African Municipal Workers Union’s (Samwu) Phanuel Tshikovha told Looklocal that the employer submitted a proposal to the Union, which they (the Union) were assessing with their members.
“We are approaching the employer’s proposal according to our mandate, which will direct us to agree or disagree,” he said.
Tshikovha added that the strike will continue until the two parties reach a consensus.
UPDATE: 9 July, 9.30am
Metrobus commuters were left stranded this morning as the bus strike entered its second day.
Management advised commuters to find alternative transport.
It said about 44 percent of the buses were operating, while others ran behind schedule. It’s not clear when the strike would conclude as no talks had been planned for this week between the two parties.
UPDATE: 8 July, 4.pm
Metrobus employees picketed outside the bus company’s headquarters.
The union demanded that acting managing director Lawrence Maqekoane be suspended pending an investigation into allegations levelled against him.
Metrobus general manager of human resources Ranti Mahlabana said in a statement that only around 44 percent of the service’s buses were running on Monday morning, 8 July.
He said the dispute related to the recruitment of staff through Adecco recruitment services, which the union saw as a violation of a 2008 agreement on permanent staff.
Mahlabana said Samwu wanted Maqekoane to be investigated and charged with violating the disciplinary code and the organisational rights agreement.
Metrobus received notice of the union’s intention to strike on June 24, after a conciliation process at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
UPDATE: 7 July, 9.08am
Metrobus commuters in Johannesburg will have to find alternative transport from Monday.
This is due to a strike by drivers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers Union.
They are demanding that Metrobus acting managing director Lawrence Maqekoane be suspended pending an investigation into allegations of corruption that have been leveled against him.
