Staff Reporter.
Photo Credit: Nigel Sibanda.
The City of Tshwane has announced that the strike by workers affiliated to South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) which lasted over three months is finally over.
Workers downed tools on July 26, demanding the metro to implement a 5.4% wage increase from the three-year wage agreement signed at the SA Local Government Bargaining Council in 2021.
Mayor Cilliers Brink insisted the city cannot afford the R600m required for the agreement.
The City has since reinstated 81 of its 123 dismissed employees who were found to be participating in the unprotected strike in recent months.
The throng of employees was reinstated after Tshwane took note of an error that occurred during the processing of their dismissals. The metro dismissed almost 200 employees since August.
Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the strike is finally over.
“All the employees are back at work executing their duties. Basic service delivery has returned to normal, and most backlogs have been cleared.
“Services such as waste collection, electricity and water outages, including fixing leaks, which were severely impacted by the strike action, have gradually returned to normality.
“The Tshwane Bus Services, whose operations ground to a halt during the strike due to intimidation directed towards the non-striking bus drivers, are back to full capacity.
“The customer care walk-in centres and clinics have also resumed full services and are functioning optimally.”
Bokaba said the city and labour unions, the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (IMATU) and SAMWU are currently engaged in discussions over the salary increase dispute facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).
City Manager Johann Mettler said the end of the strike has come as a relief to the city.
“We’re relieved that the strike, which was marred by violence, intimidation, and destruction of municipal property, is finally over, and services have resumed in earnest.”
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.