Johannesburg: indefinite strike over shifts

Drivers at Rea Vaya buses have started an indefinite strike this morning in a dispute over the shift system. The workers, who are members of the SAMWU union, want preference for shifts to be based on seniority. This is the fourth strike at the operator since it was created in August 2009.

Stagecoach unhappy about democracy

Bus operator Stagecoach has fired a fresh broadside in its battle against North East local authorities – by demanding an official role in deciding transport policy for the region.
The bus company, which runs services across the region, has been locked in a bitter battle with the five Tyne and Wear councils, who want to seize control of bus services and set fares, routes and timetables.
Stagecoach says it will take legal action against the authorities if the plans go ahead, and has warned fares will rise.
Now the bus operator has also launched a second line of attack by asking MPs to give local transport businesses a seat on the board of the regional authorities making decisions.
Stagecoach has told a House of Commons inquiry that it should have representation on Local Transport Bodies in areas where it runs buses.
http://www.thejournal.co.uk

Buenos Aires: driver's murder prompts strike

Drivers walked out on Friday in Buenos Aires City and the surrounding province during a sudden strike called by most metropolitan bus lines. The protest was launched by the UTA union following the killing of a bus-driver, Leonardo Paz (22), in a robbery attempt while he was working the night shift. Nearly 200 bus lines were paralysed.
UTA spokeperson Roberto Fernández criticised the governor of the province, Daniel Scioli, for a lack of response to numerous demands voiced by the union for better security measures for bus drivers, especially during the night shift. “Provincial leaders are only dedicated to running for the presidency and ignore all issues concerning security conditions for workers”.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com

Egypt: five-day transport strike wins key demands

Egypt’s public transport workers have resumed work as the last four garages out of 24 in Greater Cairo ended their strike on Friday, reports the state-owned Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
The workers at the Public Transport Authority (PTA) announced on Thursday they were ending the strike after the government promised to meet their financial demands.
According to Al-Ahram, the head of the PTA, along with Cairo’s governor, assured workers they would now be guaranteed the same rights as others in the public sector, as PTA would now fall either under the Cairo governorate or the Ministry of Transportation. Workers will also be paid a permanent monthly bonus worth LE200 ($28.7).
They struck for five days, demanding inclusion in the state's LE1200 ($172) minimum wage scheme and improvals to PTA's run-down fleet of 4,700 buses.
http://english.ahram.org