Johannesburg - A new wage offer aimed at ending a lengthy bus drivers’ strike has been made to the union, a spokesperson said on Sunday.
“The union is currently discussing the new offer put on the table by the Bargaining Council and the CCMA. They proposed an offer of 8.75% for the first year and 8.25% for the second,” said Zanele Sabela, the spokesperson for the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu).
Sabela said the proposed offer would be backdated to April 1 this year.
Bus drivers across the country have been on strike for nearly a month, dealing a blow to millions of commuters.
The unions had initially demanded for a 12% salary hike across the board among other demands. The figure was later reduced to 9.5%, after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) intervened.
Other issues, such as compensation and conditions for dual drivers on long-distance buses and the in-sourcing of technical and other labour are some of the concerns that have been raised by drivers.
Satawu had last week threatened to intensify the strike if their demands were not met.
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