The Department of Public Safety workers within the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) have once again embarked on a massive strike outside the municipal building on 5 August.
This comes after an unannounced pay cut implemented by management on 28 June.
At that point, workers had more than half of their salaries cut and according to management, this emanates from miscalculated weekend rates.
What this means however is that the entire West Rand will be without emergency services until their concerns are addressed in the form of a refund.
According to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) Deputy Chairperson Lethola Mokwele, management is yet to feel their wrath as they have no intention of returning to work until they have been compensated for the salary cut.
“What bothers us really is the fact that the pay cut was unannounced and a shock to us all.
“We feel that that was unfair and in contravention with the Labour Relations Act.
“What we are asking for is a refund of the money they deducted from our salaries without any knowledge from our side,” says Mokwele.
He adds that workers also want to be paid their normal salaries for the next ten months in order to have enough time to make living adjustments.
“They have to take into account the fact that the cut was sudden.
“They cannot cut our salaries after so many years and expect us to immediately adjust.
“We have financial obligations that we have to honour on a monthly basis in the form of cars, houses, school fees and other basic needs.
‘What we are asking for is a time frame to cut down on our living expenses as times are expected to get tough,” says Mokwele.
The Herald has approached the West Rand District spokesperson Dennis Mangope in this regard awaits a response.
