Non-unionized workers responsible for deadlock at EMTPM – Noticias

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Non-unionized workers responsible for deadlock at EMTPM – Noticias

5:22 CAT | 22 Mar 2017

Noticias

The strike at the Municipal Public Transport Company of Maputo (EMTPM) is being carried out by workers not affiliated to the union which represents the labour force in negotiations with the employers.

An EMTPM union source told Noticias, when asked why the strikers were not guaranteeing minimum services, that this was because of threats against those who had not joined the strike.

“The stoppage was undertake without the union’s backing and we only received only a message from our colleagues. This is a setback to talks we’re having with management,” he said.

Strikers are demanding the reinstatement of night work and seniority allowances, overtime and bonuses for breakdowns. This is the second shutdown, following a similar one after the February 5 deadlock.

Maputo municipality Transport and Traffic Department councilor João Matlombe said that the city council is following events closely, and had mobilized 16 buses from inter-provincial operators to mitigate the lack of transport.

Now in its second day, the EMTPM strike is exacerbating the lack of transport in the capital.

The measure caught commuters by surprise. With no other option, people are waiting hours on end to catch minibuses.

Commuters say the EMTPM should guarantee minimum services during strikes to minimize inconvenience to the public.

“Access to transport is the responsibility of the state. Dialogue is the best solution to problems, not strikes,” Inhagóia resident Virgília Mbembele said.

Still eager to reach their workplaces on time, citizens are forced to catch more than one bus because of the shortening of routes.

“The average citizen is the one most put upon, because even the ‘chapas’ (minibuses) are few. It takes me two hours to get to the city and I have to make many connections,” Zimpeto resident Ivan Osvaldo complained.

Source: Noticias