Bus strike cripple movement for commuters

Bus strike cripple movement for commuters

Sello Morake

The recent nationwide bus strike has impacted badly the movement of the passengers who travel every morning to work and back home in the afternoon.

The strike which started on the 16th April over salary increment by 12 percent as demanded by the bus drivers is not showing any sign of coming to an end. The employers on the other hand had put forth a 7% increase which the bus unions refused saying it was too little. Many people in and around Soweto had been badly affected by the strike as they had to endure long lines at Bara Taxi rank trying to get to work on time.

Many passengers who spoke to this Newspaper said they were worried that their employers would not understand their predicament of coming to work late. Many hardworking people had been seen making quees from as early as 5 am so that they could arrive at work early. However, the taxis could not cope with the huge demand of the transport service on a daily basis.

There are talks that the employers are willing to give the bus drivers 8.5% increase but the bus driver unions demand 12% increment to their salaries.

The minister of Transport Blade Ndzimande and labour minister Mildreft Oliphant met to discuss the way forward on how they could resolve the matter as it has affected many people and the business sector.

Meanwhile, on 25 April SAFTU members and other affiliated unions filled up the streets of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Polokwane and other small towns in the country against the proposed national minimum wage of R20 an hour, which they say entrenches poverty.

The Secretary General of SAFTU Zwelinzima Vavi in a statement said the campaign would never depend on MPs or courts to succeed, but on more of what they witnessed.

“We are also taking legal on a possible court challenge to parts of the bills. But our campaign will never depend on MPs or courts to succeed, but on more of what we saw today- mass action on the streets, which will get bigger each time, until we finally achieve our goals which are for a living minimum wage of R12 500.00 and amendments to labour laws to make it easier, not harder, for workers to be able to enjoy their constitutional right to strike,” said Vavi.

He said the poor would remain poor and exacerbate more exclusion into the economy. Vavi added that according to Oxfam report, 26% of South Africans was hungry on a daily basis and that half of all the citizens did not have  sufficient access to affordable, nutritious and safe food to meet the basic health requirements.