Numsa warns of nationwide bus strike over Easter
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is warning of a national bus strike over Easter if its members' wage demands aren't met.
The union's spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says talks with employers last month reached a deadlock.
She says they've lodged a dispute and obtained a certificate to strike but will observe the obligatory 30-day cooling-off period - which comes to an end two days before Good Friday.
Majola says they're demanding a housing allowance for workers and an R4 200 pay rise for the lowest earners, which will see them receiving R12 000 a month.
Employers are offering a 2.5% salary hike.
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"Parties agreed to minimal increases between 2020/21 as a result of this," says Majola.
"Our efforts to try and assist the industry in 2020 and 2021 by agreeing to low increases that did not apply to allowances is now being used against us by the employers as they insist that this precedent is carried over as an industry norm.
"The stubbornness of employers on this issue is the reason we have made no progress in breaking the deadlock to date.
"The outcomes of the mediation failed because employers refused to budge, and therefore, we could not unlock anything further."
