Unions brace themselves for a tough war, Johannesburg
Unions have promised to fight till the end as wage talks in the passenger bus sector begins.
Unions and employers in the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC) have started with their wage negotiations for the passenger bus sector. These negotiations kicked off yesterday and are expected to take place in three phases. The final phase will be wrapped up on March 2.
Top of the union’s demand list is a 30% across the board wage increase and an industry basic minimum wage of R15000 per month. Other demands include working hours not exceeding 40 hours a week with current salaries. Workers are also demanding that employers should provide them with legal assistance if they get involved in road accidents while on duty. The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) is leading the negotiations as the biggest union in the sector.
“The main collective agreement is compromised on certain aspects as evidenced by several illegal strikes in this sector last year. We believe it is now time to turn the situation around. We will not compromise on our mission or accept mediocrity.
“We warn those unions who often vacillate when stances harden, that we will pull through with or without them. However, we urge them to ready themselves for battle to ensure transformative gains for our members,” said SATAWU spokesperson Zanele Sabela
Beware: Unions vow to bring the city to a standstill!
