Metro to pay workers 5.1% salary hike
The salary increase is expected to be paid to employees after the conclusion of the negotiations at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council.
The metro has made provision to pay workers a 5.1% salary hike for the 2024/25 financial year.
It began negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and trade unions IMATU and SAMWU at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) on Monday, July 15.
The previous three-year salary agreement expired on June 30.
The 5.1% salary increase is expected to be paid to employees after the conclusion of the negotiations.
Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler said the municipality would honour its commitment to pay employees the salary increase for the current financial year.
“I am mindful and fully conscious of struggles to make ends meet amid the rising cost of living, which is why I remain committed to paying all employees a salary increment once the negotiations have been finalised.
“I sincerely appreciate your commitment, dedication and the professionalism with which you execute your daily responsibilities, despite the mounting challenges you face,” Mettler said.
The salary hikes come after the strike last year by municipal workers which affected service delivery.
Mettler said concerning negotiations around the previous years’ non-payment of salary increases, the metro indicated at the last sitting of the meeting that parties should reconvene after the current round of negotiations has been concluded.
He said this was primarily based on the parties not knowing what the increment for this financial year would be and the impact it would have on the city’s finances.
“All parties committed themselves to the CCMA-mediated process even though the trade unions rejected the city’s offer to settle the dispute.”
The parties further agreed that communication would be done through the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and that parties would have insight into a proposed media release before it was communicated to the media.
Mettler, earlier in the year proposed to the CCMA director Cameron Morajane that the 2023/24 salary increase settlement would only be available if, in six months, a debt collection of R4.4-billion was achieved.
At the time the city manager said the proposal was based on an assessment of Tshwane’s liquidity position.
The proposal stipulated the following:
– The settlement is made in full and is the final settlement of all salary disputes between Tshwane and organised labour, and is subject to approval by the city council.
– The offer is on condition that Tshwane achieves the revenue collection target in aggregate for February to July. If these targets are met, Tshwane agrees to a salary increase of 5.4% effective from January 1, 2024.
– The salary increases will only be payable with the scheduled salary payments in July. This will be after it has been confirmed that the set revenue collection targets have been met.
Mettler said if the metro failed to achieve its target, the salary increases would not be implemented and the parties would revert to the exemption review processes, currently pending before the Labour Court.
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