SAMWU strike: Our sneakers are ready – to the streets we go!
SAMWU said they cannot guarantee that running water will be supplied to Rand Water users when workers go on strike on 13 May.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) announced last week that it will be continuing its planned strike action for its Rand Water members on Thursday, 13 May.
The announcement came two weeks after the Labour Court in Johannesburg had ruled that SAMWU was to withdraw its notice for strike action on Wednesday, 28 April, pending the outcome of the conciliation proceedings at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
SAMWU said in a press release that, “Despite the Labour Court having ruled and ordered Rand Water to withdraw a circular issued to workers informing them that they would no longer be receiving incentive bonuses, the employer has failed to do so. Seven days after the ruling of the Labour Court, the matter was heard at the CCMA wherein a certificate of non-resolution was issued; this essentially is the workers’ licence to go on strike.”
SAMWU further claimed that during a meeting with Rand Water, “They tried to massage us to not go on a full-blown strike,” where after they purportedly informed their workers of the outcomes of said meeting and court ruling.
SAMWU lastly said, “Workers have therefore resolved that since the employer is not willing to ensure that they rescind the circular as directed by the Labour Court, nor discuss this matter in the best interest of residents and workers, the only option is to go to the streets. This has been one of the most painful decisions that we have had to make as workers because we know the impact that this will have on residents. It is however important to note that before we are employees of Rand Water, we are community members and as such, we too want clean water running in our homes.
“The arrogance of Rand Water has however pushed workers to make this painful decision. As workers will be embarking on this strike action, we cannot guarantee running water to residents and industries in the Gauteng, North West, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. What we can all do is pray for rain as that will be the only guaranteed source of water during the strike action. We therefore urge our members and workers at Rand Water to prepare themselves to fight against the unilateral change of their conditions of employment. Boardrooms have proven to not be the right platform to fight this battle. Our sneakers are ready, to the streets we go!”
