Labour unions in the bus sector, SATAWU, TAWUSA, NUMSA, TOWU and TASWU, have accepted the latest wage offer by bus employers to end the lengthy national bus strike.
The breakdown of the offer is as follows:
• 9% across-the-board wage increase for the first year effective as of 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2019
•8% across-the-board wage increase for the second year, effective as of 1 April 2019 to March 31 2020
•Minimum basic wage to increase by 9% as of date of signature and 8% as of 1 April 2019
•Allowances including Nightshift, Subsistence, Cross Border and Tool to increase by the respective ATB for both years
Matters to be referred to a Task Team
The following issues are to be referred to a task team overseen by the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) with clear terms of reference and time frames:
• Nightshift hours
• Dual Driver
• Insourcing
Unions Overwhelmingly Accept Offer
We have consulted our members from all the regions in different parts of the country. Our members have overwhelmingly accepted this offer. Employers finally agreed to back date the offer for it to be implemented on the 01 April 2018. This was a sticking point which initially prevented us from ending the strike on Friday. After much lobbying we finally convinced the employers to backdate the implementation of the offer.
Workers to Return to Work by Wednesday
Workers are officially expected to return to work on Wednesday the 16th May 2018, however we expect most of them to begin to return to work from tomorrow.
Extraordinary Discipline
We want to thank our members for their discipline throughout the strike. They were resolute and determined throughout and we honour them for their huge sacrifice. The strike began on the 18th of April and since then they have given up their wages in order to secure better conditions. We salute them!
We also thank the leadership of all the trade unions for being united throughout the duration of the strike. We worked well together and we have demonstrated the power of working class unity.
Going forward we will continue to be united as we work within the task teams to fight all the outstanding issues of the night shift allowance, the dual driver and insourcing. We will do all we can to ensure that these issues are resolved once and for all.