ACCORD HALTS GOLDEN ARROW STRIKE OVER BUS MONITORING EQUIPMENT

GOLDEN ARROW Bus Services says normal service resumed at its Eastgate depot in Blackheath after a strike by members of the South African Transport Workers’ Union (Satawu) threatened to leave commuters stranded over the weekend.
The strike, which was related to on-board monitoring equipment used by Golden Arrow to gauge its drivers’ performance on the city’s roads, started on Thursday afternoon.

It led to 130 buses being cancelled, a company spokesperson said at the time.

A Satawu representative said on Thursday that drivers at the Eastgate depot, which services Blue Downs, Khayelitsha and Deift. were striking because they believed the monitoring systems should be installed at all Golden Arrow depots, or done away with entirely.

In a Statement yesterday Golden Arrow said that the strike had ended at 11pm on Thursday

Golden Arrow spokesper son Vuylsile Mdoda said the bus company and Satawu had agreed that any disciplinary action in relation to the monitoring equipment, known as Drivecam, would be suspended for a maximum of two weeks.

This would allow for further discussion around the dispute. During that time, Satawu members would not engage in “any unlawful industrial action”, said Mdoda.

Satawu provincial secretary Evan Abrahamse confirmed yesterday that the union had agreed to this plan. Satawu was “trying to reach a more lasting agreement” with the company, he said.

Source: Cape Times – Natasha Joseph