Sweet deal for Samwu

Samwu spokesperson Papikie Mohale said, “We have secured a… [three years] agreement with WSSA on a 13th cheque which will equal 10 percent of the employee’s annual salary and a seven percent across the board salary increase in the first year of the agreement and Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus one percent for the remainder of the agreement.”

Mohale said the agreement included a nine-and-a-half percent employer contribution towards the pension fund with the employees contributing six percent, and a guaranteed blue and green drop (water management standards given by Department of Water Affairs with blue drop setting standards for good drinking water and green drop for waste water) bonus of R2 500 for supervisors, R1 500 for process controllers, shift assistants, lab assistants and belt operators, and R1 100 for general assistants, handymen and assistant artisans.

He said union members were also pleased to receive a guaranteed long service bonus of R2 000 for 10 years, R3 000 for 15 years, R4 000 plus five additional leave days for 20 years, R5 000 plus an additional five leave days for 25 years and R6 000 and R7 000 for 30 and 35 years of service respectively.

Mohale said negotiations were still continuing at the other water boards with the exception of the Amatole and Bloemfontein water boards. “We trust they too will be concluded as soon as possible. We are also in the process of concluding and consolidating our members’ feedback on the facilitators’ proposal in relation to the negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (Salga). Outcomes of this process will be communicated soon.”

He also said they trusted that Salga would learn from the water board who completed the negotiations timeously without the need to go for conciliation.

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