A no work, no pay rule will apply to municipal employees who downed tools a week ago, acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga said on Wednesday 19 March.
A no work, no pay rule will apply to municipal employees who downed tools a week ago, acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga said on Wednesday 19 March.
Planga was speaking a week after the start of what he termed an unprotected strike.
Uncollected refuse is piling up on Grahamstown's streets as municipal workers continue to stage a protracted sit-in at the city hall.
Planga told Grocott's Mail on Wednesday 19 March that they were having a meeting with the provincial leadership of Samwu.
"We are meeting at 11am to discuss a way forward with the provincial leadership of the union," Planga said ahead of the meeting. "But the strike is still unprotected and the rule of no work, no pay will apply," he said.
South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) secretary Lindelwa Faltein confirmed that negotiations were under way with the provincial leadership; however, MEC for local government Mlibo Qoboshiyane was not present.
"We were expecting the MEC to come today and meet with the leadership," said Faltein.
Planga said it would be impossible for Qoboshiyane to come and address the union in Makana.
"He did say that it is illegal for him to come and address the workers. That would mean he would have to do that in all 45 municipalities in the province – and he is very busy," said Planga.
On the morning of Monday 17 March, the workers gathered at the city hall, demanding to be addressed by MEC for local government Mlibo Qoboshiyane about their grievances.
Planga sent out a statement on Tuesday regarding the unprotected strike, saying the Council and municipal management sincerely apologised for any inconvenience the strike was causing.
He also said as a result of the strike, the municipality has been unable to render certain services.
"In particular refuse collection. Members of the community are requested not to take out their domestic refuse.
"Rather keep it on the premises until the strike is over," Planga said.
"The Council and administration urge the residents to be patient. They are doing all in their power to negotiate with the union to reach an agreement so everything goes back to normal."
Speaking to Grocott's Mail on Tuesday, Faltein said they would report to the city hall and wait for the MEC to come and address them.
She emphasised that it was not yet a strike, but a sit-in.
The Samwu action began last month when workers went over their bosses' heads, demanding intervention by the province.
They demanded a forensic audit of Makana Municipality.
They called for Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to come and address them.
A delegation from the province sent by Qoboshiyane came to Makana to receive the workers' memorandum of grievances.
Salaries and benefits have been affected by the municipality's current cash crisis.
A worker who did not want to be identified for fear of victimisation told Grocott's Mail on Wednesday that they would sit at the city hall until the MEC comes.
"Last week on 11 [March] we were told he was coming, and then he postponed. Now we hear that he cannot come because it is not in his jurisdiction to address unions," said the worker. "We have downed tools. We are going to sit in this hall every day."
Planga promised that once a decision is made with the provincial leadership of Samwu and Makana municipality the media and the community will be advised.
