/ 7 March 2011

Metrobus strike continues

A strike by Metrobus drivers entered its fourth week on Monday as unions and the employer prepared to meet in the afternoon, an official said.

“We are meeting at 4pm today [Monday],” said the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) spokesperson Dumisani Langa.

“The strike is continuing.”

Langa said on Friday that the parties involved in talks to settle the labour action were “very close to settling this thing”.

He said the facilitator of the talks would only be available late afternoon for the talks to continue.

The strike, involving 70 Metrobus drivers, started on February 9 amid dissatisfaction about new shifts implemented on December 6.

Metrobus suspended the public bus service three weeks ago because of incidents of intimidation, with five non-striking drivers assaulted the week before.

Negotiations with Samwu deadlocked and the company then to the Labour Court for a ruling to end the strike but it was ruled legal.

On February 22 Metrobus appealed the ruling, which was unsuccessful. — Sapa