Peace Corps members demand full time employment
"This is far from being over," said Dominic Phala, South African Municipal Workers Union (SAWMU) representative.
Hundreds of Ekurhuleni Peace Corps members went on a march on Wednesday, June 3, in the Benoni CBD, demanding full time employment.
George Lukhele, union steward for the South African Municipal Workers, explained reasons for the protest.
“We have hundreds of Peace Corps members who embarked on this march, to demand full time employment from the municipality,”said Lukhele.
“In terms of the Labour Relations Act, if someone has been employed by contract for three months, they have to be employed permanently.
“Some of these members have arrested criminals, their lives are in danger and they deserve to be employed.”
According to the municipality, the main issue is that some of the Peace Corps members’ contracts elapsed and they want to hold the municipality to ransom, regardless of their contractual obligations.
The Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, said the members of Peace Corps have signed a two year contract, which didn’t guarantee anyone employment.
“It is important that we also give the opportunities of serving communities as Peace Corps to other young people of our metro.
“These disgruntled members are free to apply for permanent EMPD positions as and when they are being advertised,” he added
The Ekurhuleni Peace Corp Project was launched in 2013 to empower the youth with basic skills, to compliment EMPD as their ears and eyes.
“We don’t see any skill development here, as the union we won’t fold our arms, we are going to take matters further,” said Phala
Some of the protesters claim, they haven’t been paid their April salaries and some have been paid R700 instead of R1 200.
The agreement on their contract was R3 200 per month, but since they started on the programme they have only received R1 200 per month.
Another march is set for June 8.
