Rand Water face tough salary demands from union

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will begin salary and wage negotiations with Rand Water on Thursday in anticipation of the current agreement which will come to an end on June 30.

Papikie Mohale, national media officer of SAMWU, said in a statement, after extensive consultation and a mandate from its members, they have submitted their demands.

These demands are:

1. A single year salary and wage agreement effective July 1, 2016

2. A sliding scale salary increase which includes 18% salary increase for low earners, 15% for middle and 13% for high earners.

3. R3 000 housing allowance for all employees

4. A demand that an incentive bonus be paid separately from members’ salaries

5. Six months maternity leave which includes four months on full pay and 75% for the remaining 2 months

6. Ten compassionate leave days per annum

7. Five paternity leave days

8. R300 cellphone allowance for all employees

9. R300 increase in the firefighting allowance

10. 10% increase in tool allowance and meal subsidy

11. R3 500 retirement

12. They further demand that all benefits enjoyed by other employees should be extended to employees of Rand Water in Mpumalanga.

“Ours will be a no nonsense approach in these negotiations given the current economic situation that our members find themselves in. We further urge employers not to bother coming to the table if they will be bringing insignificant proposals as this will be rejected outright.”