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SAMWU to intensify Pikitup strike to include Ekurhuleni
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will be intensifying its strike action at Pikitup and will be including all workers from the City of Johannesburg, Ekhuruleni and Tshwane.
This is according to SAMWU Deputy General Secretary, Simon Mathe, who said all workers from across Gauteng will be going on strike in solidarity with Pikitup workers.
For the last week refuse workers from Pikitup have been on strike for a week demanding salary increases and the removal of the company’s managing director.
As rubbish continues to pile up in Johannesburg, Pikitup has contracted independent companies to help clean up the city.
Piling up of rubbish, however, may now also hit Ekurhuleni.
“Unless some sort of divine intervention is achieved, we will bring Gauteng province to a standstill,” said Mathe.
“Every every effort to engage the management of Pikitup, however, we are disappointed to report that there have been no positive outcomes as there was no logical conclusion in the interest of municipal workers.
“Rubbish is piling up in Johannesburg posing potential health risk for residents especially children in informal settlements and townships.
“Despite this, Pikitup does not think that the situation has reached crisis point, they bluntly refuse to have meaningful engagements with us aimed at resolving the impulse.
“All they know is to deploy military style private security companies by Pikitup to intimidate workers. Workers’ grievances are genuine and will not be overshadowed by the arrogance of the employer.
Mathe said SAMWU wants the issue of the use of casual workers at the waste management entity to be abolished.
“This in line with the recently amended Labour Relations Act which clearly states that any employee employed for a period of three months should automatically be employed on permanent basis.
“Pikitup continues with this practice because they do not want to pay workers decent wages including benefits such as medical aid, pension and housing.
“Our members are ready to return to work but will only do so once all our grievances have been addressed by management.”
