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NUMSA Condemns Golden Arrow For Making Misleading Statements In order To Fleece Commuters

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NUMSA Condemns Golden Arrow For Making Misleading Statements In order To Fleece Commuters

NUMSA Condemns Golden Arrow For Making Misleading Statements In order To Fleece Commuters
Photo by Bloomberg

27th January 2020

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is extremely disturbed by Golden Arrow’s lies and propaganda to maximize profit. In a communique released to the public on the 30th December 2019, Golden Arrow announced a 6.2% increase across cash fares and multi-journey products based on the following:

“Over the last 12 months, the diesel price has increased by just under 11% while nationally determined wages increased by 8%”. Golden Arrow further declared that, “multi-journey products will increase by an average of 6.99%, while cash fares will increase by an average of 4.23%”.

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We condemn the management of the bus company with the contempt that they deserve. This communique is deliberately misleading to the public. It creates the false impression that Golden Arrow is paying workers the 8% increase which they secured during the last round of wage negotiations, when the truth is that they are only paying half of it! In 2019 workers received only 4% increase and the company has applied for exemption so that it does not have to pay any increases. So far it has lost its application at the Bus Passenger Bargaining Council (SAPRBC) but it is appealing this decision. In 2018 Golden Arrow paid the full increase, but it unilaterally took away a benefit known as the Top Notch system. We are fighting this battle to have both the Top Notch system re-instated, and, for the wage increases to be implemented. Meanwhile, Golden Arrows is continuing to waste millions in lawyers’ fees appealing this decision, instead of just paying over the increase. One also wonders how much this misleading propaganda campaign has cost the company?

The working class is facing severe pressure. The cost of living is extremely high, especially the cost of goods and services. We are subjected to continuous increases across a number of goods and services, but our incomes never increase to the same extent. Under these difficult economic conditions Golden Arrow is shamelessly exploiting both the commuter and workers and their families for profit.

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NUMSA will be going to court to force the employer to pay workers what is due to them, and if necessary, we will go all the way to the highest court in the land. Their refusal to pay the full increase is driven by greed and corruption. Every month Golden Arrow is stealing 4% of workers’ wages but on the other side it has forced commuters to cough up an extra 6.2%. As if this is not enough, they will be increasing fares again when our kids are going back to school after the June 2020 holidays because this is the usual practice. At Golden Arrow workers get an increase once a year, (if they are lucky), but the company gives itself an increase twice in a year. This is why we say they are greedy and corrupt. We view this unscrupulous behaviour by management of this well-subsidized entity, as nothing else but a mischievous move to pickpocket South Africans, particularly the working class and the poor.

Golden Arrow charges double during peak hour!

Golden Arrow has introduced another corrupt way of exploiting its customers by having what it calls ‘peak hour rates’ which are another attack on the working class. For instance, in Khayelitsha rates increase from R16 to R32 from 16:00pm until 08:00am, the following day. This is day-light robbery because this is the time where the majority of its customers are desperate to use the buses. This also makes it difficult for those who are looking for jobs to use their service because of its exorbitant fares at the most crucial time of the day.

If Golden Arrow continues on this path, NUMSA will have no option but to mobilize all progressive forces including SAFTU, the United Front, the SRWP and all community organizations to reject golden Arrow and all these unjustifiable increases which are digging down into pockets of the poor.

 

Aluta continua!

The struggle continues!

Issued by The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa

 

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