Municipality considers concerns of strikers

ON MONDAY, February 24, the employees at the Abaqulusi Municipality embarked on an unprotected strike where both unions in the bargaining chamber, i.e. SAMWU and IMATU, through their leaders at a local level, claimed not to be at the forefront of the unprotected industrial action.

The employees from various departments of the municipality converged outside the main building of the municipality and presented their concerns and complaints to the acting Municipal Manager.

Of priority in these complaints were the demand for a 14th cheque and the implementation of job evaluation in the Municipality.

The employees once again converged on Tuesday, February 25. The unions were then engaged by management and after intense discussions employees have agreed to return to work and to allow management to resolve their concerns.

On the issue of the 14th cheque, it is important to note that this matter is part of collective bargaining at national level and is not a municipality competency.

In relation to the issue of job evaluation, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) developed and adopted a national policy framework to regulate job evaluation. The implementation of job evaluation is a national competency.

According to the municipality, members of the public can rest assured that workers have agreed to return to work and all municipal services have returned to normal.

Management will further engage in discussions with the workers to try and resolve other matters of concern.