Illegal work stoppage ends
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15 June 2010
An illegal work stoppage by some drivers has ended, with Rea Vaya again putting on normal services and its special World Cup services for spectators.
IT'S business as usual for Rea Vaya as bus drivers who went on an illegal work stoppage return to work.
In all, 65 drivers stopped work on 14 June, leaving between 500 and 800 football fans resulting in between 500 and 800 football fans having to use Metrorail to return from Soccer City after the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match between the Netherlands and Denmark.
Fans stream to the stadium from the transport hub
"I apologise to commuters and spectators for any confusion and inconvenience that was caused yesterday," said Jackie Huntley, the chief executive officer of Clidet.
The fans were making use of the Park and Ride system put in place for match days. Rea Vaya is running a special 2010 service to get spectators to and from Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums on those days.
An emergency meeting was held between the temporary bus operating company, Clidet, and the South African Municipal Workers’ Union, which represented the drivers. The drivers are currently employed by a private bus operating entity Clidet.
An agreement was reached on shift, overtime and allowances issues and drivers agreed to return to work on both the regular commuter routes and the 2010 event routes.
Drivers had complained that their conditions of employment had been unilaterally changed, affecting their shifts and overtime.
The bus service taking fans to Soccer City on 14 June worked as planned. Following the match, most of the fans were taken back to their destinations in Soweto and the Constitution Hill Park and Ride in Braamfontein.
“We are hoping that the rest of the World Cup period will run smoothly and that we are able to transport thousands of fans to Ellis Park and Soccer City to watch their teams in action,” Huntley said.
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