Easter weekend: Bus drivers plan to strike if demands are not met

Members of NUMSA are demanding a 10% salary increase across the board. Speaking to 702fm, Hlubi-Majola stated that the strike will be across South Africa in the bus sector.

He shared that there are nine days left before the end of the cooling period after they issued the strike certificate. The certificate was issued in March, this means the strike will start two days before the Easter weekend.

“There are nine days left before the end of the cooling period after we were issued the strike certificate in March which effectively mean two days before Easter weekend NUMSA members will be eligible to go on strike.”

Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola

Companies are offering a minimal increase for drivers

Hlubi-Majola stated that NUMSA wants bus companies to give back to drivers. He shared that companies are offering a 2.5% increase.

“We want the bus companies to give back to the bus drivers. We are demanding a 10% across the board and they are offering 2.5%,” said Hlubi-Majola.

Gautrain suspends 27 workers for refusing to vaccinate

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has taken Gautrain to the CCMA after 27 workers were suspended for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Gautrain imposed a mandatory vaccination policy on the 28th of February. The suspended workers have a disciplinary hearing.

According to NUMSA, Bombela Operating Company (BOC) which manages Gautrain, claims in its communication that it consulted all stakeholders prior to implementing this policy but the trade union was not consulted.

The union said it never consulted on the risk studies done, Health and Safety reps were never involved despite the guidelines from the Department of Employment and Labour advocating for such involvement.