SEVERAL suburbs in and around Durban experienced water shortages, electricity outages and no collection of refuse for several weeks as a result of disgruntled eThekwini Municipality employees who have downed their tools and refused to repair faults, followed by week long protest action last week with demands for a grade 10 salary level.
Disgruntled workers from the water and sanitation, the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) and Electricity Units, brought the city to a standstill on Tuesday, 30 April at the at the Durban City Hall to protest over claims that city mayor, Zandile Gumede, had allegedly unfairly promoted uMkhonto weSizwe veterans employed in the department. eThekwini Municipality said on Thursday that it had decided to take the grievances of its striking workers, who want to be elevated to a grade 10 salary level, to the central bargaining council to deliberate on the matter and make a ruling.
In a press statement, City manager Sipho Nzuza, said eThekwini did not have jurisdiction on the matter because the bargaining council was a legitimate forum to handle the dispute.“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 next week, and are expected to be concluded in 30 days,” Nzuza said.
“We urge our employees to desist from violent strikes that cripple 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.” The city has apologised again to all residents whose access to basic services was disrupted.
Ward 64 councillor, Gavin Hegter, said that the protest action embarked on by the water and sanitation department has severely affected his ward and residents. “We have a number of water leaks as well as sewer blockages that are not being attended to. There are a number of sewer pipes that were damaged in the recent storm that are still pumping sewage into the stormwater system and rivers. To make matters worse numerous other departments have joined in the protest, including DSW which has paused the refuse collection resulting in trash bags and litter scattered in the area,” said Hegter.
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