Municipal employees down tools
"Service delivery will be affected as we're only prepared to work our normal eight hours, but what can we do?"
Msukaligwa municipal workers in Ermelo downed tools last week after they were not paid their overtime allowance and still have not received the proper uniform and safety equipment.
In April the workers submitted a memorandum of grievances, which to date, they say, have not been resolved.
Some of the workers said they were also concerned about management dragging its feet in getting them new vehicles, because the current fleet is unroadworthy and has a lot of mechanical faults.
Currently, most of the workers have already reached their regulated 40 hours of overtime for the month and have vouched not to put in extra hours that they won’t be paid for.
“Service delivery will be affected as we’re only prepared to work our normal eight hours, but what can we do?” asked one employee.
They also said they did not experience this problem while municipal manager Mr Zwelakhe Shongwe on transfer to Govan Mbeki Municipality for a time, because their overtime allowance was paid in full.
In April the Highvelder requested clarity on standby and overtime allowances and municipal spokesman Mr Mandla Zwane responded by saying: “The maximum permissible overtime as per section 10 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act is 10 hours in any one week.
“As per the definitions of the Act a week means the period of seven days within which the working week of that employee ordinarily falls and a day a period of 24 hours measured from the time when the employee normally commences work.
“Employees earning below the threshold must be paid 1.5 times the normal wage rate for overtime worked, except for Sundays.
“Overtime on a Sunday must be remunerated at double the normal wage rate.
“By agreement, the employer may allow an employee paid time off for overtime worked instead of paying the employee.
“The employee will then be entitled to 90 minutes paid time off for every 60 minutes overtime worked.
“The referred paid time off must be granted to the employee within one month after working the overtime, but by agreement this period may be extended to 12 months.
The workers said they held a meeting with management last Wednesday and were promised their outstanding money would be paid yesterday (Wednesday).
A request for response was sent to the municipality, but no reply had been received by the time of going to print.
