Puleng Sekabate
MEMBERS of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Ekurhuleni filled the streets of Germiston during a march on June 2.
SAMWU members marched to Germiston Civic Centre to hand over a list of demands to the metro’s executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina.
Insourcing of municipal services, housing allowances for underpaid workers, union “bashing” and unfreezing of annual salary brackets were among the workers’ grievances.
SAMWU’s regional secretary, Thokozani Nkosi, elaborated on some of the demands.
“SAMWU members have gathered here after patiently knocking on the door of the employer to open the doors of engagement,” he said.
“Our backs are against the wall and we are left with no other option but to fight back, defend and protect the workers’ rights.
“The metro stopped historic gain and the selling of leave days without consultation in 2014 and we demand that the employer restores the selling of leave days on or before June 30.
“SAMWU also demands the unfreezing of annual salary brackets, as well as the standardisation of allowances.”
Nkosi also said the workers were demanding a housing allowance.
“We demand the payment of housing allowances which has been unilaterally stopped by the employer and want them backdated to the date they were stopped,” said Nkosi.
“The employer has also been exploiting our members by employing them on fixed term contracts and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), in the name of the poverty alleviation programme.
“We demand that all our members be employed under fixed term contracts and the EPWP be permanently absorbed in the new financial year.
“We are also calling on the employer to insource all outsourced municipal services, including East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT) and Ekurhuleni Development Company (EDC).”
Nkosi also said they wanted answers on the two previously submitted memorandums of demands.
“We recently submitted memorandums and demand an immediate response to those demands,” he said.
Nkosi added they wanted an increase in the employer contribution for the SALA Provident Fund from 9.4 per cent to 18 per cent, equal to other provident and pension funds within Ekurhuleni.
