Grahamstown once again faces rubbish-strewn streets as the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) went on strike this morning, resulting from a wage dispute with the South African Local Government Association (Salga).
Grahamstown once again faces rubbish-strewn streets as the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) went on strike this morning, resulting from a wage dispute with the South African Local Government Association (Salga).
This came after a series of unsuccessful wage negotiations between Samwu and their employer body – Salga.
The municipal workers were initially demanding an increase of 18%, or R2 000 per person per month across the board. Salga has only offered to increase wages by 6.8%.
Samwu told Grocott’s Mail that the union has budged from its initial demand of 18% to 10% and they are not prepared to move below that. “We are open for further discussions with the employer if they are willing to table a revised offer,” said Tahir Sema, Samwu national spokesperson.
“Our experience with the employer is that they only take negotiations seriously when the strike is underway.” He said about 140 000 union members have taken to the streets, 20 000 of whom are workers in the water purification sector.
He added that if the strike continues for a longer period it could spell a crisis in all municipalities throughout the country. Taps in Grahamstown could run dry if water purification workers strike indefinitely.
Moreover, the areas of the township where the bucket system is still used could find themselves with uncollected buckets – presenting a major health hazard. Samwu’s Makana chairperson, Wandile Bikitsha, told Grocott's that the union’s strike is indefinite.
Milisa Kentane, Salga's national spokesperson said that the executive management met this weekend, but she could not reveal the details of the meeting. Communities across the country could also face a separate strike by post offices workers, following an announcement by the Communications Workers Union last week that its members intended to put down their tools.
The decision to strike had been made at the union’s executive meeting last week, said Matankana Mothapo, CWU spokesperson. The union demands 11% while the employer only offers close to 6%. However, communications manager of the South African Post Office, Johan Kruger, hopes that a strike may be averted. He said they are confident that a satisfactory conclusion regarding employees' salaries will soon be reached.
