Everything you need to know about Wednesday's bus strike
Think again if you want to take the bus on Wednesday‚ or you could find yourself stranded.
This comes after wage negotiations in the industry deadlocked last month‚ leaving commuters in the lurch. Wage negotiations between South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC)‚ the Commuter Bus Employers Organisation and SA Bus Employers Association started in January this year.
SARPBAC includes the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union‚ Transport and Allied Workers Union‚ the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union.
Employees want a 12% wage increase‚ while employers are offering a 7% increase‚ 7.25% increase the next year‚ and a 7.3% increase in 2020 with a basic minimum wage set at R6‚070.
With no indication that the demands will be met‚ a national bus strike has been called. It starts on Wednesday at 6am.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What the unions wants:
- 12% wage increase;
- Pay for all hours drivers spend on the bus‚ if they are driving or not;
- Subsistence allowance for drivers who are doing long distance travel and have to sleep on the road;
- Night shift allowance in compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act; and
- Special allowance for workers who qualify to drive buses with two or three coaches.
Who is striking?
- Megabus;
- Gautrain buses;
The Gautrain bus service will not operate from tomorrow due to the nationwide bus strike. Please make alternate transport arrangements. The train service will operate according to schedule and we will keep you updated.
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) April 17, 2018
- Greyhound;
- Golden Arrow;
- Putco;
Operators of Tshwane’s Bus Rapid Transit system, A Re Yeng (including the Mamelodi route), Gautrain busses,Putco, North West Star and Megabus has indicated their intention to strike. #BusStrike
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 17, 2018
- MyCiti in Cape Town;
- Rea Vaya in Johannesburg;
Rea Vaya passengers are advised that there will be no bus operating tomorrow, 18 April 2018, due to National bus driver's strike.^BM pic.twitter.com/hh1KsDdgmv
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) April 17, 2018
- Buscor in Mpumalanga;
- Bojanala in the North West;
- Algoa Bus in Port Elizabeth;
- Mayibuye in East London;
- Go George in George;
- Areyeng in Tshwane;
Dear commuters
— A Re Yeng (@A_RE_YENG) April 17, 2018
Our bus service will be suspended as from Wednesday morning 18 April 2018 due to protected national bus strike, commuters are urged to seek alternative means of transport. We will keep you updated on new developments. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. pic.twitter.com/Bli8fbAIBS
- Mgqibelo in Sedibeng;
- Lowveld Bus Company in Limpopo;
- PAL Bus; and
- Mphakathi in Mpumalanga.
Who is not striking?
- Joburg Metrobus;
Please take note and Retweet for awareness#NationalBusStrike #BusStrike pic.twitter.com/BI5yZMspAz
— Joburg Metrobus (@JoburgMetrobus) April 17, 2018
- Tshwane Bus Service; and
Service Alert: We have taken note of tomorrow's planned bus operators strike and would like to assures our commuters that TBS is not part of the planned strike. Our bus service is expected to operate as normal and any development will be immediately communicated.
— Tshwane Bus Service (@Tshwanebus2) April 17, 2018
- Durban Transport.
What about taxis?
- Taxis are expected to run as normal.