An agreement “in principle” was reached in a meeting between Metrobus and South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) on Wednesday, the bus company said.
“We have reached an agreement in principle and we expect it to be finalised tomorrow,” spokesperson Herman van Laar said.
He said he could not elaborate as details would be made public at a press conference at 11am on Thursday.
Samwu could not immediately be reached for comment.
Metrobus spokesperson Esther Dreyer said earlier: “The meeting today is a good sign.”
Samwu expressed similar sentiments. “If it was up to us, the strike would end with the meeting today,” said spokesperson Dumisani Langa.
It was hoped that the meeting at 10am on Wednesday could represent a breakthrough after talks between the two parties deadlocked last Monday.
Metrobus suspended its service five weeks ago when the strike started, even though only 70 drivers out of 500 were refusing to work.
This was due to fear of intimidation against those not participating in the strike, the company said.
Earlier Langa said Samwu would do its “level best” to reach an agreement in the meeting because of the inconvenience placed on commuters by the strike.
“The commuters have been coming to us as if it is us that is at fault, that’s why we would like to resolve this issue,” he said. — Sapa