MyCiTi drivers on strike route

A strike involving MyCiTi drivers began yesterday, with threats that it will continue until pay and conditions improve.

While the strike appeared to have little impact on commuters, City of Cape Town mayoral committee transport member Brett Herron said delays were expected on most routes today.

The drivers, who are affiliated to the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu), stopped work at 2pm.

They want Satawu to be formally recognised by their employer, Trans Peninsula Investments, which is contracted by the City of Cape Town to operate some MyCiTi routes.

It is not clear how many are striking, but about 100 MyCiTi workers picketed outside their depot in Green Point, singing Struggle songs, watched by police.

Driver Wafieq Martin, who was a taxi driver for seven years before joining MyCiTi, said he did not earn enough.

"We get picked up at 4am, we finish at 8pm but we get home at 10pm."

He said he quit being a taxi driver because he had been promised a better job with improved conditions.

"I earned double the amount I earn...I am coming home with R5000," Mattin said.

Another employee, Rash-ied Williams, said: "We want a basic salary. They are paying us an hourly rate."

Union organiser Mayibenathi Matwa said: "We want to be recognised so we can give full representation of our members."

Trans Peninsula Investments spokesman Ghaalid Behardien dismissed the strike as a Satawu ploy to make money through membership fees.

"They want to be the only union here...they want everyone to belong to them and pay them subscription fees. That is what this is all about."

He said the drivers had never raised their issues over pay and hours, and the company was a member of the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council, which governed the industry.