Putco, unions meet to resolve wage strike
Updated | By Cliff Shiko
Putco management says it remains in talks with unions in an attempt to find a solution for the wildcat strike.
Last week, the company dismissed 105 bus drivers, who had downed tools over 6% salary increases and bonuses dating back to 2020.
Unions, including Numsa and Satawu, intervened after the company threatened to dismiss over 1000 workers for participating in an illegal strike that started on 1 September.
The ongoing talks are facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).
"We were finally able to agree on an offer that we would put to the workers,” says Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu.
“The current process is for unions to report back to the depots about the offer and we expect them to give feedback this afternoon about what are the workers saying.”
Xulu says workers who have since been dismissed will have to follow the appeal process if they want to be reinstated.
"As a company, we have taken a very strong stance against those who have been seen doing grave misconduct, they need to appeal process we are open to that internally and we are open to the in source external help for those appeals.”
Meanwhile, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says they will be challenging the dismissal of 65 Numsa members from the 105 workers who were fired last week.
"We hope that this is the proposal that can settle this strike. We are not convinced that the process to dismiss them was fair, and we took the decision already to defend our members against what we see as unfair dismissal."
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