The picket, which will start at 9am, will be in support of the union defending their members’ right to strike after Rand Water attempted to stop the Samwu strike with an interdict.
On 17 August, Samwu issued a 48-hour notice that its workers would strike if Rand Water did not concede to wage demands within 48 hours.
The union’s national collective bargaining officer Chumani Gqeke said, “In a sign of panic, we were surprised to receive an intention to interdict our strike. In court papers, Rand Water argues that they are exposed to the imminent strike that they are not prepared for and that they have no ability to prepare for or take counter measures in regard to this industrial action.”
The matter is set to be heard at the Labour Court at 9am. Ggqeke said, “Our constitutional right to strike cannot be taken away by an arrogant and exploitative employer which does not value the work done by its employees.”
He said it was obvious that they were knocking on the right doors hence the fear and panic within Rand Water’s boardrooms. He added that it was clear that Rand Water wanted to intimidate the union into not going ahead with the strike action.
Contacted for comment, Rand Water reiterated the statement they released yesterday that it will continue to provide high-quality potable water to all its customers and remains committed to reaching an amicable resolution to the current salary negotiations.
The entity could not respond to questions about the allegations made by the union that Rand Water was ‘spreading lies’ after Gqeke said Rand Water’s claims in the media were different to what he knew to be true.
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