/ 2 April 2007

Negotiations continue in Metrobus strike

Negotiations to resolve the ongoing Metrobus strike continued on Monday, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said.

Samwu spokesperson Dumisani Langa said the union and the City of Johannesburg management went back to the negotiating table on Monday.

He would not discuss the current status of negotiations.

”Talks will continue. There is the possibility that by the end of this week there will be an outcome,” he said.

Spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Gabu Tugwana could not immediately confirm that a negotiating team had met with the union on Monday.

Tugwana said a second management team met with Metrobus employees at about 10am.

”We wanted to give our perspective to the talks,” he said.

According to Tugwana, Metrobus employees were trying to determine if the union or city management was ”dragging its feet” with regards to negotiations.

The strike concerns pay, sick leave and the dismissal of 19 employees.

Metrobus confirmed on Monday that none of the buses were running.

In the interests of the safety of commuters and staff the bus service was suspended by the city on March 20.

The municipality said 21 violent incidents had been recorded since the strike started, including murder. — Sapa