SAMWU members take to the streets
South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) members delivered a list of demands to the metro’s executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina.
Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Ekurhuleni region filled the streets of Germiston during a march that took place on Thursday.
SAMWU members marched to the Germiston Civic Centre to hand over a list of demands to the metro’s executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina.
Insourcing of municipal services, housing allowances for underpaid workers, union “bashing” and unfreezing of annual salary brackets were among the workers’ grievances.
SAMWU’s regional secretary, Thokozani Nkosi, elaborated further on some of the demands.
“SAMWU members have gathered here after patiently knocking on the door of the employer to open the doors of engagement,” he said.
“We are here representing a significant number of metro employees, the unemployed population and the studying youth of Ekurhuleni.
“Our backs are against the wall and we are left with no other option but to fight back, defend and protect the workers’ rights.
“The metro stopped the historic gain and the selling of leave days without consultation, in 2014, and we demand that the employer restore the selling of leave days on or before June 30.
“SAMWU also demands the unfreezing of annual salary brackets, as well as the standardisation of allowances.”
Nkosi also said the workers are demanding a housing allowance.
“We demand the payment of housing allowances which has been unilaterally stopped by the employer and want them backdated to the date they were stopped,” said Nkosi.
“The employer has also been exploiting our members by employing them on fixed term contracts and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), in the name of the poverty alleviation programme.
“We demand that all our members be employed under fixed term contracts and the EPWP be permanently absorbed in the new financial year.
“We are also calling on the employer to insource all outsourced municipal services, including the East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT) and Ekurhuleni Development Company (EDC).”
Nkosi also said they want answers from the two previously submitted memorandums of demands.
“We recently submitted memorandums and demand an immediate response to those demands,” he said.
Nkosi added they want an increase in the employer contribution for the SALA Provident Fund from 9.4 per cent to 18 per cent, equal to other provident and pension funds within Ekurhuleni.
The GCN contacted the metro in an effort to get a response regarding SAMWU’s demands but no comment was forthcoming at the time of going to press.
Also read:
Round-up: Makause residents demand better service delivery
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (journalist) leighh@caxton.co.za or Puleng Sekabate pulengs@caxton.co.za.
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.
