The two-week long strike at Putco, the public utility transport company, has come to an end, company spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said on Tuesday.
More than 150 000 commuters including school children were greatly inconvenienced when Putco bus drivers downed tools and demanded wage increases over a week ago. The workers wanted a 6% salary increase and 2020 bonuses, rejecting the company’s 3% offer.
Xulu told Sunday World on Tuesday that numerous meetings were held with unions who expressed their wish to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both the workers and the employer.
“Our hope was for our striking workers to adhere to a court order and return to work, but unfortunately disruptions took place. However, things have calmed down and the operations are improving as the buses will be back on the roads in Soweto this afternoon,” said Xulu.
“We have already started operations in Mpumalanga [on Monday] where we managed to dispatch over 100 buses to take people to their destinations.”
Xulu added that Putco has been lenient to the strikers who defied a court order to return to work last week.
“We were lenient in a sense that we still had conversations with some of the unions, trying to find a solution to the impasse. The 105 employees who have been dismissed by the company will not return [to work], but they can appeal [against their dismissal].
“As Putco, we were caught unaware by the protest, it was unplanned and illegal. We could not have other means to provide transport to our commuters. Those who have expired tickets will be discounted in the future.”
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