Striking bus drivers and the bus operating company have reached an agreement in the ongoing protest, and buses will be back in operation this afternoon.

COMMUTERS can anticipate the resumption of Rea Vaya services from the afternoon of Tuesday, 27 September 2011.

Joint facilitation by COSATU Gauteng and the City of Johannesburg assisted in ending the protracted strike at PioTrans, the Rea Vaya bus operating company, which started on 1 August, 2011 and left approximately 40 000 commuters a day looking for alternative transport for almost eight weeks.

All parties agreed, that the interest of the commuting public as well as public transport should be at the centre of attempts to deal with the impasse. It is in this spirit that an agreement, containing the following has been reached:

• A basic salary for employees of R6 550;
• R1 500 once off payment on return to work;
• Provident Fund: Company contribution at 10 percent of basic salary = R655;
• A guaranteed 13th cheque, equivalent to a month’s salary;
• Performance Bonus up to the value of R600;
• Voluntary Medical Aid: Company contribution 50 precent / Member Contribution 50 percent;
• The PioTrans board will oversee the process of any outstanding matters which will be reduced to writing within 7 days; and
• All parties agree that there will be no plant level negotiations on matters covered by the main collective agreement at SARPBAC.

All parties apologise to Rea Vaya users for the inconvenience caused due to the lack of services and commit to ensure the resumption of service by this afternoon.