[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Joburg bus strike intensifies

[Patrick Bond]

'All 54 000 Samwu members to down tools'
20 May 2009, 09:24

The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has served notice of a strike 
among all its members in Gauteng after the collapse of wage talks for 
bus drivers, an official said on Wednesday.

Samwu Gauteng spokesperson Dumisani Langa said all 54 000 of its members 
in the province would down tools on May 28.

"We have served the city with notice," Langa told Sapa.

This will be in solidarity with Johannesburg Metrobus drivers who have 
been on strike since April 28.

The drivers are demanding an entry-level basic salary of R7 021, a 
salary of R8 800 for drivers with five years' experience and a salary of 
R10 650 for drivers with more than 10 years' experience, said Langa.

He said all drivers were currently earning R7 021 per month.

Metrobus has said it could not accede to Samwu's demands, warning it 
would place the company in liquidation.

Talks collapsed last week, leaving bus commuters stranded for a fourth week.

Metrobus board chairperson, Zweli Mntambo, told reporters on Tuesday 
that Samwu's demands would cost the company around R12-million per annum.

"Agreeing would mean that we'd have to raise bus fares quite 
substantially, like doubling what commuters pay now, or petition the 
City of Johannesburg for a larger portion of ratepayers' money to 
subsidise the additional costs," said Mntambo.

But Langa said the union would not back down, although he acknowledged 
the strike was becoming a lose-lose situation, since bus drivers on 
strike are not receiving any pay.

"All parties are losing, it's a fact. It's in both party's interest to 
solve the issue but we are not changing our demands," said Langa. - Sapa