THE Rea Vaya Phase 1A bus service has not been operating since 1 August 2011 due firstly to an illegal work stoppage and then legal strike by Piotrans workers. Piotrans is the bus operating company responsible for providing bus services to the City of Joburg for Phase 1A of Rea Vaya BRT.

"On behalf of the Piotrans Board and management, I would like to apologize to the passengers of the Rea Vaya BRT System about the lack of services" said Mrs Grace Molefe, Chairperson of Piotrans.

"The Company is doing its best efforts to find a sustainable and long term solutions for the challenges it has encountered."

Workers embarked on an illegal strike in respect of wages and related matters on 1 August 2011.  Piotrans management successfully obtained an interdict from the Labour Court to end the illegal strike and the majority of workers returned to work on 8th August 2011. 17 workers that did not return to work have been fired from the company for participating in an illegal strike.

However on the same day the drivers represented by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) began a strike which they regarded as legal.  Piotrans again interdicted the strike but in this second instance the Labour Court ruled that the strike was legal.  

Piotrans management are willing to discuss the wage and related issues with the drivers but need to do so in compliance with South African labour law and practice.  Wages in the bus passenger sector are determined centrally by the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council and any negotiations on wages has to happen in this context.

The present demand of the wages is R15 0000 per month plus benefits.  This request is significantly above the stipulated ceiling enforced by the Bargaining Council Agreement.

It should also be noted that in May 2011 a salary increase of 10% was implemented on behalf of the Piotrans bus drivers. The increase was according to what was agreed and formalized in the collective agreement signed between the South African Bus Employers' Associations and the main unions that represent the drivers in the passenger transport sector of South Africa.

Piotrans has been making intensive efforts to contact the leadership of the drivers to solve the strike in the shortest possible time. However the dispute has been referred to the South Africa Road Passengers Bargaining Council (SARPBAC) who has assigned the 29th August as the date for the conciliation.

"The SARPBAC Main Collective Agreement, signed earlier this year, is binding on the parties," said Mr Eric Motswhane.

"Piotrans has recognized the need for a sound and equitable relationship between the Company and its employees, which is also to the benefit of about 35.000 passengers that travel daily in the Rea Vaya BRT System," said Mrs Molefe.

"Piotrans is also cognisant of the fact that the way in which settlement of this strike is reached can impact on the future of Rea Vaya BRT not only in the City but also in the country as a whole," she added.

For more information contact:
Mr. Eric Motshwane
Corporate Affairs Director
Cell: 0829563429