Tension between the South African Municipal Worker’s Union (Samwu) and the Msukaligwa Municipality has flared up again.
As previously reported in the Highvelder, 29 July 2017, Samwu and Msukaligwa at loggerheads over working conditions, the two parties had a fall out last year over the working conditions and municipal grading was the bone of contention that resulted in strike action.
After a week of picketing outside the municipal offices in Ermelo, municipal employees of Samwu embarked on a strike in late March 2017.
They claimed they could no longer put their lives in danger by driving municipal vehicles that are not roadworthy and climbing electrical poles with high voltages without proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
At the heart of the matter, besides the PPE, was the long-standing issue of the municipal task grade, which determines on which level a municipality is graded, as the level of grading has direct financial implications for everyone.
After a meeting between the two parties, employees returned to work with the agreement that the demands would be met and progress would be reviewed in May.
However, tensions flared up again in September with the same issues not being resolved.
The union requested an urgent meeting with the Msukaligwa management on 20 September to discuss these issues and it resulted, according to Samwu leaders, in shop stewards of the union being suspended.
After a media enquiry by the Highvelder, the municipality refuted such claims, saying some Samwu shop stewards were suspended for other things that are not related to the matter at hand and it is a matter between the employer and the employees.
Two days later, the suspension of these shop stewards was lifted and they returned back to work.
Samwu has leveled serious allegations against the municipality and among them is that:
• The Health and Safety office is none-existent and there is no personal protective equipment for workers.
• The municipal task grading and job evaluation has still not been done.
• Samwu feels that some of their members are not considered for promotion and placement within the municipality.
• The recruitment procedure is dubious.
• Nepotism is rife within the municipality.
• There are no relevant working tools with municipal vehicles not being roadworthy.
• Fraud and corruption is prevading in the municipality.
• There is unnecessary outsourcing of jobs.
The municipality has refuted all the allegations with Mr Mandla Zwane, municipality spokesman, saying the Occupational, Health and Safety Officer was appointed on 11 September 2007 and that the municipality is in the process of re-establishing a health and safety committee, and unions are expected to resubmit nominees to serve on the committee.
“Therefore the insinuation that there is no Health and Safety Officer at Msukaligwa, is incorrect,” Mr Zwane said.
Mr Zwane added that PPE was to be delivered on Tuesday, 16 October and will be handed over to supervisors during the week, however the municipality is concerned that PPE is worn by people who do not work at the municipality.
On the issue of fraud, corruption and nepotism, the municipality asked anyone with information, to report it to the law enforcement agencies which include the police, Commercial Crime Unit, Office of the Public Protector and Office of the Public Service Commission.
“Msukaligwa is committed to fight corruption and fighting corruption is everyone’s business,” Mr Zwane said.
The two parties met on Thursday, 11 October, to resolve these issues.
The Highvelder received information that the meeting was cordial and problems were going to be resolved.
However, by the time of going to print, follow-up talks between the two parties have stalled.
