Municipal workers back at work
The municipal strike by members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has ended after management and union leaders reached an agreement on Tuesday evening
The strike started on Tuesday, 10 November with workers burning tyres in front of the municipal building in protest against the discontinuation of the encashment of leave days by the municipal manager and what they say is the rampant corruption at the institution.
“All workers are expected to resume work tomorrow (Wednesday) and all municipal services will be available at all service points,” a statement by the municipality read on Tuesday evening.
The downing of tools by workers, who are mostly members of SAMWU, resulted in the municipal offices’ yard and the streets littered with garbage as services grinded to a halt.
The situation got out of control when striking workers went on a rampage, overturning garbage bins leaving Agatha Street littered.
The police reacted by firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, injuring one person.
Also read: Municipal services grind to a halt
By the time of going to press on Tuesday evening, it was not sure if municipal manager, Serapelo Matlala’s threat that the strikers will not be paid for the days they didn’t work, will be carried out.
Before an agreement to return to work was reached, he told Herald the municipality and the unions will engage to see how best to implement the ‘no work no pay’ principle.
On Monday, during a virtual press conference, Matlala said that the municipality has proposed the leave encashment exemption agreement which needs to be signed by SAMWU.
He said once the agreement is signed by the workers’ representative, the municipality will apply for an exemption from the collective agreement on leave encashment signed at the bargaining council.
Also read: One injured by police rubber bullets
According to the municipality’s proposal which is subject to the approval of an exemption by the bargaining council, managers are excluded from the new leave encashment agreement.
Workers on level 4,5 and 6 will be entitled to encashment of six leave days while workers on level 7 to 17 will be entitled to encashment of a maximum of eight days.
The sequence of payments will be as per current status and that only qualifying employees will be entitled to leave encashment in terms of available days in the current leave circle, he said.
After the strike was ended on Tuesday evening, the municipality said in a statement that “further discussions on the matter will take place at the Local Labour Forum”.
“We apologize to all ratepayers who could not access municipal services in the past seven days,” the statement read.
