SA bus service may grind to halt

Johannesburg - Unions affiliated to the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council have given notice they will strike countrywide from Monday. "This disruption of commuter bus services and the inconvenience of thousands passengers, is highly regrettable... but we will continue towards finding a solution to this impasse," the council said in a statement after giving notice on Friday afternoon.

About 15 000 bus company workers are expected to particpate in the action after pay talks with the SA Bus Employers' Association (Sabea) deadlocked this week.

"There will be no buses on routes as of Monday morning. The 48-hour strike notice is effective from a minute past midnight tonight [Friday]," said Transport and Omnibus Workers' Union (Towu) general secretary Gary Wilson.

"We have had no contact with Sabea since talks ended this week, but our door is always open. This strike will go on for as long as it takes to meet our demands.

"Details of picketing and other matters regarding the strike will be revealed at a later stage," said Wilson.

The three unions involved in the talks are Towu, the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu), and the Transport and Allied Workers' Union of SA (Tawusa).

Sabea represents 31 bus companies, including Putco in Gauteng, Mayibuye Algoa in the Eastern Cape, North West Star, Great North Transport, Remant Alton in Durban, IBL, Maluti, Gauteng Coaches, Ipeleng, and Mgqibelo.

The unions, which claim to represent 15 000 workers across South Africa, want a 15% pay hike, while Sabea is offering 6.5%.

Sabea vice president Meshack Ramela said a mediator had proposed a pay hike of 8.5%, which the unions rejected.

A second mediator intervened and an offer of 9.5% was proposed.

Ramela said that while the employers agreed to the offer, the unions rejected it.

"Sabea believes that a realistic settlement may be reached in this manner," Ramela said.

- Sapa