Samwu
City of Johannesburg lashes out at Samwu's threats to make city 'ungovernable'
The DA-led multiparty coalition government in the City of Johannesburg has criticised Samwu over its threats to render the city ungovernable.
MMC for Economic Development, Leah Knott, said that it was untrue that these workers were issued with notices requesting them to provide reasons by this Friday, explaining why they should remain employed.
Last week, the City of Joburg voted to reverse the conversion of contract workers to permanent employees.
Samwu said these employees were contracted by the metro's previous African National Congress government and were now being punished under the Democratic Alliance-led administration.
Samwu said it was one step closer to going on strike, after announcing on Friday that wage negotiations in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council had officially collapsed.
The union said the negotiations took a turn after Samwu and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union received an offer.
Wage negotiations between unions and the South African Local Government Association started in March.
Workers are demanding a R4,000 salary increase across the board, saying that this will ensure that the wage gap in the sector is narrowed and that workers receive decent increments.
Samwu and IMATU are demanding compensation for between 700 and 800 workers, who reported for duty during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Tshwane residents have been warned that services may be interrupted on Tuesday due to municipal workers' protest taking place in the capital city. Water, electricity and cemetery services may be affected.
The strike by Samwu that was set to take place on Thursday was cancelled after Rand Water obtained a Labour Court order to prevent the union from protesting.
Samwu and Rand Water have been at loggerheads regarding performance incentive bonuses.
Samwu and Rand Water officials have been in and out of meetings in an effort to find middle ground but it appears this has not succeeded.
Samwu and Rand Water have been at loggerheads regarding performance incentive bonuses.
The City of Cape Town has indicated that a disciplinary process is still currently under way relating to the events of 2019 when the firefighters took part in an illegal strike.
Samwu said that over 500 firefighters could face dismissal by the City of Cape Town. The union's Archie Hearne said that following a court ruling on the matter, the municipality had moved this year to institute disciplinary action.
Workers were demanding amongst other things incentive bonuses.
A handful of South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) members gathered outside the Rand Water head offices on 21 April 2021 to protest for their incentive bonuses. #SAMWU #RandWater