A Metrobus strike on Monday did not have a huge impact on commuters, the company said.
”About 80% of our buses did run this morning,” said spokesperson Charles Hlebele.
He said about 80 employees gathered outside Metrobus offices on Monday morning after a dispute with the company over sick leave.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) spokesperson Dumisani Langa said workers were told in 2005 that they stood to lose sick leave accumulated over 15 years if it was not taken within 30 days.
Hlebele disputed this. He said the company and the union had reached an agreement in 2003 stipulating that accumulated sick leave should be taken within the next two years.
He said all affected workers who qualified and decided to exercise their right were paid their full benefits in December 2005.
”Our position is that the issue was discussed and negotiated, there is an agreement … we do not really understand what the problem is … they [the union] were part of the negotiations.”
Langa said the strike would continue until the union’s demands were met. He said there was also the ”likelihood” of a secondary strike.
”We will fight Metrobus as Samwu Gauteng, not just as Metrobus [union members employed by Metrobus].”
However, Langa said, by Monday lunchtime, there were still no plans for talks between the two parties. — Sapa