POLOKO TAU
REA VAYA bus drivers have accused their employer PioTrans of victimising five drivers suspended for allegedly blocking the depot entrance during the recent strike.
PioTrans said the drivers were served with suspension letters on Tuesday and charged for parking their cars in front of the Dobsonville depot gate during the two-month strike.
The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), which represents the employees, said its members were unhappy with the suspensions, and accused PioTrans of reneging on the agreement signed to end the strike.
“One of the clauses in an agreement which ended the two-month strike by the drivers was that no one should victimised… The suspensions came as a surprise, and it was disappointing that when we thought PioTrans would be more concerned about building a sound relationship with the drivers, they’re now being arrogant and provocative,” said Samwu bus sector organiser Dion Makhura.
“Any reasonable management would avoid something like this, given that the company has just come out of a two-month strike. If PioTrans knew just how difficult it was to convince the striking drivers to return to work, they shouldn’t be doing this.”
PioTrans spokesman Eric Motshwane denied the victimisation allegation, saying the Rea Vaya operator “cannot be held to ransom about discipline in the company.
“Nobody is victimised, but we’re following the company’s policy and disciplinary procedures, and we’ll never compromise on that. They blocked the gate during the strike and management could not operate from the depot as the (striking drivers) had literally taken over the depot, choosing who goes in,” Motshwane said.
“There is a clause in the agreement that nobody should be victimised, and that is not what we’re doing here. But what they did was wrong. If they want to go on strike they can, but we’re merely following disciplinary procedures here.”
Makhura said it was “surprising that PioTrans was only bringing up the matter now after keeping quiet about it during the negotiations.
“They should have informed us about our members’ conduct… in one of the many meetings we had in an attempt to end the strike.
This is pure victimisation and they’re picking on vocal people in a bid to weaken the union. If they need to charge people, they must charge everyone who picketed at the gate.”
The five drivers are expected to attend their hearing on charges of misconduct next Tuesday. Their suspension comes a week after the drivers returned to work after a strike over salaries and benefits.