Francesca Villette
MYCiTi bus drivers who embarked on an illegal strike have been given an ultimatum to return to work today or face legal action.
BG Ncube, chief executive of Kidrogen, one of the city’s four My-CiTi vehicle operating companies, said its lawyers had prepared an urgent application to the Labour Court for an interdict against the 110 drivers who embarked on an illegal “wildcat” strike on Wednesday.
The drivers are demanding a 100 percent wage increase, medical aid and housing subsidies.
“We are not out to victimise the drivers, but the strike is illegal and they are not protected. We have now issued them with a final ultimatum to return to work. If they fail to do so, our lawyers have already secured a date in the Labour Court,” Ncube said.
The strike started on Wednesday and continued into day two yesterday, affecting MyCiTi services in Table View, Atlantis, Melkbosstrand and Century City.
Brett Herron, the mayoral committee member for transport, said striking drivers yesterday assaulted a non-striking bus driver and forced passengers off the MyCiTi bus in Parklands.
Yesterday morning, the strikers stoned a MyCiTi bus at the Usasaza station in Dunoon, but
police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said no complaints had been lodged.