The financial loss due to a Metrobus strike over sick leave was minimal, the company said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Charles Hlebele said the strike thus far had ”little impact” and ”very little monetary implications” as the dispute with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) entered its third day on Wednesday.
”On Monday about 180 workers did not come to work. On Tuesday about 130 stayed away and we anticipate that the number would be less today [Wednesday],” he said.
Samwu spokesperson Dumisani Langa estimated that the company’s daily income may be halved due to the strike.
”Since only 50% of their buses are running they may suffer a deficit of 50% of their daily income,” he said.
A Metrobus strike in 2003 which lasted six weeks cost the company around R6-million.
Langa said the union was determined to continue striking and proceed with their plans for a secondary strike until the company acknowledged their grievance and made an offer.
The secondary strike would include Samwu’s 18 500 Johannesburg members from Metrobus and Johannesburg’s municipal workers.
”Metrobus continues to give a different version of their position, if they are willing to make an offer, we are open to negotiate, until then the strike will continue,” he said.
The union is demanding that workers be paid out for unused sick leave.
The union said Metrobus told workers in 2005 that sick leave accumulated over 15 years would be lost if not taken within 30 days.
Hlebele said there was no reason to negotiate as an agreement over the issue of sick leave had been signed with the union in 2003. – Sapa