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Johannesburg - A national municipal workers strike started
on Monday with union officials insisting this was the only way to pressurise
employers into offering better salary increases.
"We have learnt that Salga (SA Local Government
Association) only responds once they are pressurised," said SA Municipal
Workers' Union (Samwu) spokesperson Tahir Sema.
"Workers started downing tools from this morning
(Monday)."
Samwu workers were officially demanding an 18% pay hike, but
Sema added that they would not settle for less than 10%.
Salga spokesperson Milisa Kentane said their offer stood at
6.08%.
"Our doors remain open (for talks)," she said on
Monday.
"But 18% is just not an option. Our municipalities will
be unable to carry that."
A Salga advert which appeared in Sunday newspapers stated
that the unions and employer had reached a multi-year salary agreement in 2009.
According to that deal, workers got a 13% increase in 2009,
8.48% increase in 2010 and would get 6.08% in the current year.
Parties would be able to re-open negotiations if inflation
went either below five percent or above 10%.
"In this instance, the parties agree that the CPI
(Consumer Price Index) stands at 4.08%. Based on this, the unions requested
that negotiations be re-opened," stated Kentane in the advert.
Sema said the union "remained committed to meet"
with Salga for more talks.
"We rejected the paltry offer of 6% made to
workers by the employer body, Salga. We are demanding 18% or R2 000, whichever
is greater," said Sema.
Various "march activities" would take place
countrywide as Samwu expected 145 000 workers to take part in the strike.
But in the City of Tshwane, an official said many workers
arrived for work on Monday morning despite the labour action.
"All bus drivers and workers in the transport
department reported for the first shift of the day." It was not clear why
these workers, many of whom were members of the SA Municipal Workers Union
(Samwu), did not stay away as was planned," said Tshwane spokesperson
Pieter de Necker in a statement.
Sema said this could be because some workers were unaware of
the strike.
De Necker said the next shift for bus drivers started at 2pm
and that would give a better indication of the number of people taking part.
The City of Johannesburg could not be reached immediately
for an update on the impact of the strike.
In KwaZulu-Natal, chilly weather seemed to keep striking
workers at home.
"We planned a number of pickets but very few people attended
because of the cold weather. The weather has disrupted our plans," said Samwu
provincial secretary Jaycee Ncanana.
