By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
uShaka Marine World will be closed from Monday as employees prepare to down tools over failure to implement a 2016 salary adjustment recommendation.
The entity, owned by eThekwini municipality, had appointed an auditing company to conduct salary benchmarking in 2014. This was completed in 2016 but workers says recommendations were not implemented.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) said that they discovered this when a document was leaked to them in 2020.
Workers issued management with a strike notice after they reached a stalemate during wage negotiations.
uShaka CEO Ndabo Khoza said, the two parties were unable to come to a settlement, therefore the matter is being referred to the Commision for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for intervention.
He said over the last few months, uShaka Marine World has been engaged in salary negotiations with the union representing the bargaining unit employees.
“Unfortunately, the parties have not been able to come to a settlement and this led to the matter being referred to the CCMA despite the employer’s best endeavours,” Khoza said.
“uShaka Marine world will be closed due to negotiations that have been taking place between Samwu and the entity itself, added Khoza.
eThekwini municipality confirmed that the union had submitted its 48-hour notice to the theme park ahead of the industrial strike and it apologises for any inconvenience caused.