Durban city manager urges striking workers to resume duties

Following a series of talks, the city has decided to take the grievances of workers who want to be elevated to Grade 10 to the central bargaining council, to deliberate on the matter and make a ruling, reports Highway Mail.

The City said in a statement that, legally, eThekwini does not have a jurisdiction on the matter because the bargaining council is a legitimate forum to handle this matter.

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City Manager Sipho Nzuza is appealing to workers to resume their duties with immediate effect, and to refrain from resorting to violent means in the event of a dispute with the employer.

“After lengthy consultations between us and the union representatives, we have decided to refer the matter to the central bargaining council for further negotiations and determination. Discussions at bargaining council will commence on Monday and are expected to be concluded in 30 days.

“We urge our employees to desist from violent strikes that cripples the operations of the city. Recently, we had to spend a lot of resources and money to clean up the mess that was left behind by our workers in the central business district,” said Nzuza.

He said the city would like to apologise again to all residents whose access to the basic services was disrupted.

“A principle of no work, no pay will apply, and workers could face disciplinary action as the city obtained an interdict making it unlawful to participate in this strike.

“eThekwini will always be committed to consult organised labour in compliance with the labour relations prescripts,” added Nzuza.

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