There’s still no end in sight to the Metrobus strike in Johannesburg. All three Metrobus terminals are still closed as a result of deadlocked salary negotiations.
Spokesperson, Deon Makhura, says the strike will continue until their demands are met.
“For now we are deadlocked because last week we went to Metrobus and they told us, for us to speak to them, we must withdraw the strike. We are demanding an increase of 18% and we are demanding that employees who have been dismissed must be reinstated. It is an indefinite strike and it is not going to stop if the employer doesn’t come to the table,” says Makhura.
Video: Metrobus strike continues
Demawusa stands firm on its demands:
Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Demawusa) says the value of the salary of workers has diminished over the years.
“That’s our opening figure. It encapsulates the loss that has been incurred by workers from 4-5 years, but all these matters are negotiable,” says Demawusa’s Secretary-General, Stephen Faulkner, who maintains that their demands are reasonable.
Faulkner also calls on Metrobus to reimburse commuters who had already bought their tickets.
“It’s not as if Metrobus was not alerted to the strike, they were well in advance but they allowed commuters to buy future tickets. They have to fully reimburse commuters.
Video: SABC News speaks to Demawusa Secretary-General Stephen Faulkner
