Rea Vaya recruits new drivers
|Published
067 31.03.2014 Rea Vaya buses are seen parked at the bus depot in Dobsonville, bus drivers took to the streets this morning protesting against poor servicers and better salaries, Soweto. Picture: Itumeleng English 067 31.03.2014 Rea Vaya buses are seen parked at the bus depot in Dobsonville, bus drivers took to the streets this morning protesting against poor servicers and better salaries, Soweto. Picture: Itumeleng English
Johannesburg - The recruitment of new drivers for Rea Vaya buses started on Monday after 158 were dismissed for taking part in a three-week unprotected strike.
Bus operating company Piotrans said it had 65 drivers left in its employ.
Its spokesman, Dumisani Mntambo, said there had been a disciplinary hearing after bus drivers abandoned buses on the streets of Joburg on February 2.
The majority of drivers failed to heed the call to appear at the disciplinary hearing, he said.
“The company made reasonable efforts to ensure the notice to attend the hearing was delivered to the employees. We also ensured that the relevant trade union was notified,” he said.
Proceedings went ahead in their absence, and 158 drivers were found guilty of serious misconduct, including:
- Failing and/or refusing to drive the route issued to them.
- Failing and/or refusing to park the buses in the prescribed authorised area at the end of their route, in accordance with the waybill. The drivers had parked the buses in an unauthorised area in the Joburg CBD, in contravention of the company’s policies, rules and procedures and municipal by-laws.
- Leaving buses unattended in an unauthorised area.
- Sabotage, relating to allegations that on February 2, the drivers attempted to sabotage the company’s services by conspiring among themselves to bring the buses to a halt.
- Disrupting the operations of the company and bringing its services to a halt.
Those workers found guilty of misconduct have been fired with immediate effect.
“The dismissed workers have been notified of their right to appeal against the sanction imposed against them as a result of the disciplinary inquiry. They have also been advised they may refer the dispute to the relevant bargaining council,” said Mntambo.
The recruitment started on Monday.
“In the meantime, a proposal is being developed for approval by the City of Joburg regarding the resumption of services. We appeal to our customers to once again bear with us as we restore normality to our operations. Services will be slow during the next few weeks,” Mntambo said.
It is understood that drivers’ demands include wage increases and shift changes. No formal demands have been produced.
The Star