Negotiations continued into Wednesday night between the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Metrobus in a bid to end the bus drivers’ strike which has left commuters stranded for more than a week.
Samwu Gauteng branch secretary Dumisani Langa said monetary settlements had now been agreed upon.
However, the main sticking point continued to evolve around Metrobus employees being unable to move up to a higher salary scale.
All drivers earned the same monthly wage, regardless of how many years they had served the company.
Langa said the union wanted an entry level category for those who had worked zero to three years, a mid-category made up of those who had worked for three to six years, and the top-notch category for those working for six years and over.
However, he said the union was being offered an entry level category defined as between zero to seven years of employment, a mid one of seven to 14 years, and a top category for those who had been working for 14 years upwards.
Confirmation of this offer was not immediately available from Metrobus.
A 2007 Metrobus strike saw 21 violent incidents reported to the police, including murder.
This week’s strike has been peaceful so far, but no Metrobuses are running because the company said it could not guarantee the safety of drivers standing in for the striking workers.
Metrobus has said that the strike would cost drivers about R2-million in lost salaries as the no work, no pay principle applied. — Sapa