The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) will embark on a strike this week at Autopax, a division of Transnet that deals with bus transportation, the union announced on Monday.
Satawu national spokesperson Ronnie Mamba said Autopax was served with a notice of strike on Monday morning.
”It is indefinite and it is in protest against repeated infringements of labour regulations by the management of Autopax. These include taking decisions without due consultation, Mamba said.
Autopax, which operates prominent bus lines Translux and City to City, is set to lose R1-million a day when the strike starts, the union said.
It has a fleet of 240 buses and makes 52 long-distance trips every day, including international trips.
”The company has had long-standing grievances by workers over salaries, conditions of service, lack of transformation as well as unilateral decision making by management.”
The 1 000 workers are also unhappy with management for allowing the company to fluctuate from profits to a deficit over three years.
”They are also complaining that after twelve years of democracy, top management is still white and male,” Mamba said.
Attempts to gain comment from management have not yet been successful.
The protests will take place on Thursday in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London. — Sapa