Gautrain commuters using the auxiliary bus service were dealt with a second day of delays as drivers continued their industrial action on Wednesday.

Passengers were informed of disruptions by way of an announcement on the stations’ public address systems that said the bus service had commenced late‚ but “the buses are now going out”.

Spokesperson Ian Findlay told RDM News Wire that the go-slow which mainly affected bus users in Midrand and Rhodesfield on Tuesday – the Centurion‚ Pretoria‚ Hatfield and Park stations – had on Wednesday to all Gautrain services.

Findlay said that it was hard to predict how long the industrial action would last‚ but said he hoped for a speedy solution.

The new majority union - the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) – is still to be accredited and had been set to meet with the bus operator and Gautrain representatives next Tuesday‚ said Findlay.

“Obviously‚ in light of the action‚ we’ll try to get to meet with them sooner so that this can be resolved‚” said Findlay.

Numsa said on Tuesday that it fully supported the drivers' action‚ but added that “workers have since decided to suspend the go-slow since a meeting has been arranged with the Mega Express representatives…to resolve the impasse”.

This message‚ Findlay said‚ had clearly not been heeded by the workers.

According to Numsa‚ its members demand a one-hour continuous lunch break‚ while they are “currently given 20 minutes unpaid lunch break‚ while at the same time their compelled to work nonstop”.

Numsa hinted that it would explore other avenues of action should its demands not be met.