The Hout Bay Civic Association has called on the City of Cape Town to in-source MyCiTi staff as a matter of urgency.
This as the strike by disgruntled workers continues for a second day. The striking workers, who are employed by the vehicle operating companies (VOCs) that run the MyCiTi bus routes, are demanding better working conditions and to be in-sourced by the City.
The civic association has called on mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, to ensure that the employees are in-sourced into the City of Cape Town.
They believe this will cut out the middleman and more money will be available to pay the staff better and ensure better working conditions.
The association says if the workers’ demands are not addressed, working class communities such as Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay will be greatly affected.
In response, Mr Herron has reiterated that most of the striking workers do not work for the City. He said the contractor employs the personnel working at the stations among which the cashiers, cleaners, etc.
“The City has committed itself to the long-term operational empowerment of the minibus-taxi industry by signing 12-year contracts with VOCs. Thus, the VOCs are contracted by the City to operate the MyCiTi service and up to 80% of the operations of Phase 1 of the MyCiTi service (these are the inner-city routes, routes to Hout Bay and Hangberg, Atlantis, Table View, and beyond) are being run by the two VOCs set up by impacted taxi associations. Most of the workforce like the drivers and many others, have come directly from the taxi industry,” said Mr Herron.
Mr Herron, who described the current unprotected strike as inexplicable, urged the striking workers to engage with their employer.
“I urge those who have embarked on this strike to use the structures and processes in place to address any grievances or concerns they may have with their employment.”
