Cape Town - The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) plans to intensify the MyCiTi strike and has called on all bus drivers to join the industrial action.
As the strike enters its sixth day, Satawu official Brightness Matwa said the strike would continue until MyCiTi operating company, Transpeninsula, met the union’s demands.
Union members went on strike over working conditions, poor representation and additional leave days, he said.
“At the moment, there has been no discussion between parties. We intend to intensify the strike and we are going to ask other bus drivers to support it, not just MyCiTi drivers – other companies including Golden Arrow,” he said.
Transpeninsula director Ghaalid Behardien said:
“Satawu refuses to come to the table and negotiate. They are sticking to unreasonable demands and only when we agree to these demands are they willing to meet.”
He said contingency plans, including the use of stand-in drivers and assistance from other VOC’s would continue.
“Contingency plans seem to be working, but our aim is to minimise the inconvenience to the public,” he added
The strike turned violent last week when two MyCiTi buses were attacked in Hout Bay and Salt River.
Behardien said criminal charges were to be lodged.
Matwa said although thousands of commuters could be inconvenienced if more drivers joined the strike, they were dealing with “an unreasonable company, with draconian working conditions”.
“We ask our people to assist because these workers are suffering. We understand the impact this will have on commuters, but workers’ rights must be taken into consideration. Commuters will be affected, but that is not our problem, it is the problem of our employer,” he said.
Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said the federation supported striking workers.
He said the city was responsible for the strike as they should ensure workers’ rights were protected in contracts.
He also urged other MyCiTi drivers to join the strike.
“This is a huge inconvenience, and we think the city will allow the company to drag this strike out. We want the strike to end,” he said.
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron appealed for drivers to return to work.
“In the meantime we will continue to put contingency measures in place to mitigate the impact of the strike on commuters,” he said.
Cape Times