Numsa threatens bus strike ahead of Easter weekend
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it is preparing for a national strike which could leave passengers stranded during the upcoming Easter weekend.
The union says its members could down tools if employers fail to return to the negotiating table.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says the looming strike is due to the employers’ stubbornness.
“We have been trying to negotiate with employers since January through the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council, and we declared a dispute in February, but employers are stubbornly refusing to give workers a meaningful increase.
“The issue which has triggered the strike is that the employer refuses to negotiate health insurance benefits. Workers in the sector do not have any kind of medical aid or medical insurance at all.”
Hlubi-Majola says their members are demanding a 7% wage increase.
“The union members want a minimum wage increase of 7% for year one and year two, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025. Both employers made an offer directly to employees of 6% increase for 3 years. This proposal is conditional upon workers dropping the demand for medical insurance.”
Hlubi-Majola says they have requested a meeting with the employer within the next 48 hours.
“We have obtained a certificate to strike certificate, and if the employers do not come back to the negotiating table, we will have no choice but to resort to a full-blown strike and this is likely to impact the upcoming Easter weekend.”
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