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Johannesburg - Striking municipal workers will settle for
nothing less than a double-digit wage increase, the SA Municipal Workers' Union
(Samwu) said on Thursday.
"The proposed figure is never what you get in the end,
but we will settle for nothing under double digits," said spokesperson
Tahir Sema.
Samwu members took to the streets on Monday in an attempt to
push for an 18% salary hike. The SA Local Government Association (Salga) has
offered a 6.8% increase.
Sema said that 18% was not a "ridiculous" figure
on which to begin negotiations.
"This figure will eventually be negotiated downwards.
Just come to the table and begin negotiations," he said.
Disgruntled workers were to picket at work places around the
country on Thursday. Provincial marches would take place on Friday.
"We are busy with mobilisation efforts," Sema
said.
Workers would march for their wage demands and also in
protest against the municipal systems amendment bill.
The legislation is being called the cadres' bill because it
bars party office bearers from being employed in senior positions in
municipalities.
Samwu said it was still deciding whether to challenge the
bill in the Constitutional Court.
The union called off a threatened strike about the bill a week before the local government elections on May 18 after last-minute talks with the ANC, led by President Jacob Zuma.
