Pretoria - The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has disputed assertions that most of its members in Tshwane are boycotting the union's countrywide pay strike.
"We're not sure where the city is getting the information as 97% of our members have downed tools. Members of Imatu (Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union) are currently running the bus services, not us," said Samwu branch secretary Zebulon Monkoe.
Samwu is the majority union in the city, with more than 11 000 members.
The City of Tshwane said the strike had not had a huge impact on its ability to render services.
It said most workers were reporting for duty, and that bus services were operational with almost all the shifts running throughout Pretoria.
Monkoe envisaged there would be a total stoppage of services when Imatu members joined the strike on Friday.
He said municipal offices in Soshanguve, Atteridgeville, Mabopane, Silverton and Centurion were closed down. Water plants in Rietvlei and two power stations in Pretoria were also not manned.
Some departments within the metro embarked on a "go slow" on Tuesday, with management threatening that strong action would be taken against them.
Pieter de Necker, City of Tshwane spokesman, expressed disappointment with Samwu members who took to the streets earlier on Tuesday in the CBD, without proper permission from the Tshwane metro police.
About 120 people took part in the illegal march and emptied dustbins on the streets. No reports of violence were received. De Necker warned that CCTV footage would be used as evidence to discipline employees for littering and public disturbance.
The union said a team was dispatched to investigate claims of littering carried out by its members.
"We can't condone littering or damage to property. It is unfortunate. Our team will be investigating," said Monkoe.
He said Samwu members would continue picketing at bus service depots on Wednesday. It was anticipated that the action would "gain momentum" in the next few days.
Samwu launched the strike on Monday to put pressure on the SA Local Government Association (Salga) to accede to an 18% wage increase, provided that the minimum cash adjustment was not less than R2000 with effect from July 2011. Salga wants to settle at 7.5% and has maintained that the workers demand of 18% is unreasonable.
The municipal association was also of the opinion that the demand would have a huge impact on the budgets of member municipalities.
The unions said the wage demands followed an increase in the price of many basic necessities and the cost of day to day living.
Monkoe said the department of co-operative governance & traditional affairs was engaging with Salga and would then meet the union later on Tuesday.