Cape Town - Thousands of Cape Town commuters were stranded again on Monday morning, as Golden Arrow and some MyCiTi drivers continued to strike after a deadlock in wage negotiations.
Other bus services throughout the country were similarly affected.
While Golden Arrow has locked up its buses and suspended all operations, the City of Cape Town has put contingency plans in place and MyCiTi continues to operate, though at a “slightly reduced service”, said Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater.
On Monday morning, members of the Transport and Omnibus Workers Union (Towu), who constitute the majority of Golden Arrow drivers, gathered for a rally at the Samaj Centre in Gatesville.
Tony Franks, Towu’s spokesman, said they would be setting a time and date for a march on Parliament.
Towu’s march on Parliament will highlight the fact that bus companies receive government subsidies.
The strike started on Friday after unions and employers nationally could not settle on a wage increase.
After initial wage negotiations, which started in January, reached a deadlock, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration intervened and proposed a 9 percent raise as a compromise.
Towu has said it has been mandated by its members to accept the offer, but confirmed that its members were striking on Monday until a settlement in agreement with other unions and employers can be reached.
Barry Gie, spokesman for the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council, said on Monday morning that the industry had been in dire straits for the past five years.
“Revenue from ticket sales have grown at around 5 percent annually, wages have increased by around 9 percent.
“This has put employers in a tough position, but the unions tend to ignore that when they come to negotiations,” he said.
Metrorail in the Western Cape said commuters could use their Golden Arrow clip cards to board Metrorail trains during the strike.
- A service delivery protest early on Monday forced police and traffic services to close the approach road from the N2 to Cape Town International Airport.
By 10.30am the protesters had been dispersed by police, but rubble was still strewn over the road, said traffic spokeswoman Merle Louwrens.
By the time of publication, authorities had begun clearing the road and Louwrens said it was hoped the road would be reopened soon. - Cape Argus