Satawu considering secondary strike

Transport union Satawu is considering nationwide marches and approaching Cosatu affiliated unions for secondary strike action as the countrywide bus strike is now well into its second week. 

 

This strike will not be discussed by workers, says Satawu.

 

A bargaining council proposal to end a nationwide bus strike will not be discussed by workers, the SA Transport Workers' Union (Satawu) said on Tuesday. "The proposal has nothing exciting [in it]. We have looked at it and it doesn't meet the criteria to be discussed," said Satawu spokesman Vincent Masoga.

 

He said the union would discuss its course of action at a meeting later in the day. Commuter Bus Employers' Organisation spokesman Barry Gie said on Monday that the bargaining council's general secretary had tabled the proposal on Friday. "They [the unions] would have to indicate whether or not they accept it. If they agree, then there will be a settlement," he said.

 

On Friday, Gie said employers had increased their offer from 6.5 percent to eight percent, across the board, for workers earning R23.50 an hour or less, and to 7.5 percent for those earning more. He said the unions had reduced their demand from 18 percent to 13 percent. However, Masoga said at the time that the union had reverted to its former demand after the talks deadlocked.