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In yet another last ditch attempt to end the national bus strike, employers and union representatives will meet at 10:00 on Thursday in Johannesburg.
After a lengthy caucus meeting on Wednesday, the five unions reported back on consultations with their members.
The unions have not adopted a rigid approach and have all apparently been mandated by their members to accept a two-year deal with a 9% pay rise this year and 8.5% next.
This was the last offer put on the table by the employers. However, the unions want the pay rise backdated to April 1, while the employers have so far insisted on May 1 because of the delay caused by the strike.
While the Nactu-affiliated Transport and Omnibus Workers' Union (TOWU) has been clearly mandated to accept the last pay offer from the employers, the other four unions seem unsure.
And the Saftu-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) that also represents some bus drivers, seems likely to continue to demand a 9.5% increase this year followed by 9% for 2019.
Numsa's position may be strengthened by the fact that Saftu has called on all members available to picket bus depots in support of the strike and the last union pay demand.
TOWU members have mandated their negotiators to accept the employer offer of 9% and 8.5%, but subject to the pay increase being backdated to the originally agreed April 1.
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