Precedent set by municipal employees will impact future even more detrimentally
There will be a negative impact on ratepayers, as it will not be possible to identify sufficient savings to accommodate salary increases and back pay, the DA said in a statement.
The DA caucus was surprised to learn of the agreement that was reached between the striking workers, STLM and COGTA.
The party acknowledged the fact that newly elected councillors have not yet been inaugurated, and that the strike and the criminal activities that followed after the dismissal letters were served, had a huge negative impact on our residents and town as a whole.
Unfortunately, the incoming council will be bound by this agreement, and no one has any detail on the financial impact of the agreement.
In the DA’s opinion, there will be a negative impact on ratepayers, as it will not be possible to identify sufficient savings to accommodate the salary increases and back pay.
The fact that contractors had to supply material and labour during the strike will also deplete the funds that were budgeted for maintenance work.
In the interest of the town, DA caucus leader Hennie Niemann said, “We are happy that workers must return to work on November 18, and we trust that they will ensure that services that were not rendered take place with immediate effect, without incurring huge additional overtime claims.”
“We will demand a full report from the municipal manager, in which the financial implications and funding proposals are spelt out,” Mr Niemann said.
“We are very concerned about the precedent created, as this agreement will impact future strikes,” he added.
He assured residents that the DA caucus would keep residents informed, and the party would fight tirelessly to minimise the financial impact on already overburdened ratepayers.
