Bus strike won’t end soon: union

Cape Town - 130424 - Bus Strikers protesting at Belleville Station about low wages. They are demanding an increase of 18%. The protest was one of song and dance, the protesters taking on an almost revelrous mood. It was only much later that the police were present, and then only about 10 officers to monitor the situation. PICTURE: THOMAS HOLDER. REPORTER: DANEEL KNOETZE

Cape Town - 130424 - Bus Strikers protesting at Belleville Station about low wages. They are demanding an increase of 18%. The protest was one of song and dance, the protesters taking on an almost revelrous mood. It was only much later that the police were present, and then only about 10 officers to monitor the situation. PICTURE: THOMAS HOLDER. REPORTER: DANEEL KNOETZE

Published Apr 29, 2013

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Cape Town - Thousands of commuters are expected to continue to battle to get to work on Monday as the bus strike enters its second week.

The national strike has left many workers having to cough up extra money for alternative transport.

Bus services like Golden Arrow, Translux and MyCiTi have been affected since April 19 with workers demanding an 18 percent pay hike.

SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union spokesman Vincent Masoga said the strike would not be ending “any time soon”.

“The strike will continue on Monday, we will also resume talks on Monday. We were deadlocked at the last meeting with the employers.”

The unions softened their 18 percent demand last week to 13 percent but Masoga said they would be demanding 18 percent again.

“We went back to 18 percent, they are offering 8.5 percent but we are looking forward to the talks (on Monday) and we hope we can come to an agreement.”

City of Cape Town spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said the MyCiTi service would remain disrupted as employees had been threatened.

“We will monitor the situation and make a decision from there. We will make an assessment (on Monday).”

Metrorail regional manager Mtuthuzeli Swartz said train drivers would not be joining a strike despite rumours that the train service would also stop.

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Cape Argus

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