The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it has reached a deadlock and declared a dispute against employers at the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC), as there has been no resolution on the union’s demands and employers have not responded to core demands.

Numsa has convened a meeting of shop stewards in the bus passenger sector for February 14 to map the way forward.

Numsa is awaiting the SARPBC’s confirmation of a date for conciliation, which should happen in about 30 days times, the trade union says.

In the meantime, Numsa has called on employers to return with a better offer, failing which, a national strike in the bus passenger sector will be “unavoidable”.

“We are aware that a strike will inconvenience passengers, but we may be compelled to resort to such action if employers do not return with a decent offer on the table,” Numsa warns.

The union participated in the first round of wage talks from February 5 to 9 under the auspices of the SARPBC.

Numsa is negotiating with employer associations the South African Bus Employers Association and the Commuters Bus Employers Association.

Bus companies that are members of SARPBC include Putco, Bojanala’ Algoa, Great North Transport and others.

Numsa outlines that its core demands, together with that of other unions, include primary healthcare, with full compulsory healthcare for all workers in the industry, subject to qualifying exemptions. The employer would contribute 50% and workers 50%.

It is also calling for an increase in the allowance for the double driver from R450 to R900. (Drivers do on average 18 trips per month, this then represents about R25 a trip, the union avers).

Demands also include a 10% wage increase across the board. (During the course of negotiations, Numsa says it reduced its demand from 15% to 10%)

Numsa is also seeking a one-year agreement. It notes that if the employer wants a multi-year agreement, the offer must be compelling.

The union says it was surprised by the employers being unable to meet its demands, despite it having submitted these early in December 2023, and the unions motivating for their demands in January.

“For example, they are only offering a conditional 4% increase, and they demanded that the unions drop all other demands. They tried to persuade us to extend the first round of wage talks, but we have rejected this proposal,” Numsa says.

Numsa explains that members had given it a mandate to make significant progress in the five days which were allocated to the negotiations; however, there is still no consensus.

The union adds that it does not want to prolong negotiations unnecessarily.

The current agreement will expire on March 31, and Numsa says it has to expedite this round of wage talks, hence its decision to declare a dispute.

SARPBC has yet to respond to a request for comment.