Not long ago, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) gave councillors more than R2 000 in cellphone allowances, while they having unlimited cellphone contracts. They also gave councillors R6 000 housing allowance. Clearly the above allowances are ridiculous. But, interestingly, no one has complained about Salga wrecking the municipal wage bill.
Having said that, the municipal wage negotiations between Salga and labour have started. You will hear the Mr and Mrs Know It All saying the local government has no money. Yet they said nothing when Salga gave councillors these ridiculous allowances. So they should just save their breaths.
The employer has proposed a paltry 5,9 per cent, saying they don’t want to reward mediocrity. Mediocrity? This is an insult to the loyal workers who are paid peanuts. There is no doubt that the employer’s proposed offer shows how much they disregard the municipal employees. What’s new?
I’m well aware that negotiations are still in their infancy, and that negotiators always start with the (employer’s) lowest and (labour’s) highest proposals. But the attitude of the employer (“We don’t want to reward mediocrity”) is negative and in bad spirit. And when one looks at the history of municipal wage negotiations, Salga has always shown disregard for workers.
When the then finance minister Malusi Gigaba delivered his maiden and last budget speech, he hiked VAT from 14 to 15 per cent. Gigaba hiked tax whilst unemployment is at its highest, squeezing the few that are employed. What a genius! The hike has had a ripple effect in transport, food and clothing prices. Is the national local government body taking the above into cognisance?
If Salga can afford to give councillors such crazy allowances, surely they can afford to offer the municipal employees better wages? If the employer doesn’t better the offer, I have no doubt in my mind that this will lead to an industrial strike. It seems that’s what Salga wants.
