UPDATE on EMS strike: No pay, no service – SAMWU
Whether there is a house fire or accident victims who need our services, we are not going to help them – Sanwu spokesperson on behalf of striking EMS workers.
Emergency Services (EMS) downed tools on Tuesday, 13 November after the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) had not met their demands.
On Tuesday afternoon, several EMS fire trucks belonging to WRDM, including Krugersdorp, pulled into WRDM’s premises with strikers chanting revolutionary slogans.
Bongani Mgcina, spokesperson of the South African Municipal Worker’s Union (Samwu) said after the municipality had failed to take the employees’ plight seriously, they were compelled to call for a shutdown in the entire district.
Read the initial article here:
“We are shutting down the services and will make sure that no emergency service is rendered by WRDM,” Mgcina said.
He said for the last three months, third parties have not been paid. This affected employees’ bond and loan repayments, medical aid, insurance, policies and pension funds. Some of the strikers were also demanding their annual bonuses.
“The municipality did not meet its financial obligations to the workers, therefore we believe that it would be unfair for us to continue rendering services.”
Mgcina said unless the municipality meets these demands, no services will be rendered. Strikers are set to make their grievances heard, and will not budge.
“We have been meeting with the Gauteng provincial government, but even those discussions are not bearing any fruit.
“Whether there is a house fire or accident victims who need our services, we are not going to help them,” Mgcina added.
The Herald was just informed a number of EMS staff are making their way to Johannesburg.
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