No end in sight for bus drivers' strike

Thousands of commuters were left stranded after bus drivers embarked on a nationwide strike on Wednesday morning. 

Unions are demanding a 12% increase across the board with a minimum basic wage of R8 000, but employers are currently offering a three-year agreement with 7%  for the first year, 7.25% in 2019 and 7.5% for 2020.

The warring factions are due to meet at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Thursday. 

"From our assessment the strike has been very successful. It is just a pity that it has been successful at the expense of commuters who use the buses on a daily basis. We are hoping the employers are noting the same thing and this will soften up their attitude when we meet each other tomorrow (Thursday) and on Friday with the intervention of the CCMA to make sure we come to a resolution and people can go back to work," says Satawu's Zanele Sabela. 

Bus drivers have vowed to continue with the industrial action until management gives in to their demands.

"The other issue is the night shift in this industry is a peculiar one. It differs from the basic conditions of employment which says night shift is any work done between 6pm and 6am. But in this industry they think it is what happens between 8am and 3am. So for them if you are at work at 6pm they do not consider that night shift. 

"We also have a problem with the duel driver system where two drivers leave on a long distance trip. The one is driving and the other one waits to take over when the primary driver is tired. They contend that the one who is not driving when the bus leaves is not on duty until he puts foot to pedal. That is ridiculous because he is on duty, he is in the bus, he can't be elsewhere. Therefore we want full-pay for them. Currently they are only getting a R400 allowance per month," Sabela says.