Workers were supposed to return to work yesterday, but they claim that their representatives received summons from the municipal manager and legal department, to report to court on Wednesday.

Worker representatives said that they informed the council about the summons, after which council withdrew the summons, urging workers to resume their duties.

Representatives also added that a special council sitting will be tabled to mandate salary increases for employees from level 4 to level 5.

Workers downed tools last Thursday.

Last year they embarked on a two month long strike, demanding pay increases.

An agreement between the municipality, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union and the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, was signed. According to the agreement, salaries of employees would be adjusted on the same level as other municipalities of the same size to determine a new salary grade.

The municipality, in the agreement, committed to benchmark the authority against other, bigger level 4 municipalities, and adapt salaries accordingly.

Workers, many of whom already receive level 5 salaries, were not happy, resulting in last week’s strike.

According to council sources, a special council sitting will be called this week to address the salary demands.