An illegal municipal strike which began on Wednesday (July 5) at the Department of Hygiene, Engineering & Services offices, where municipal workers blocked the entrance with burning tyres, is finally over, says Alfred Duma Communications Manager Siyabonga Maphalala.
The municipality has stated that the protest began with a single employee who was not satisfied with the recruitment process, and began motivating employees employed on a contract basis to join him in a wildcat strike.
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“I wish to state that the municipality had no warning that employees planned to embark on the strike which resulted in havoc and confusion and a disruption in service delivery. Both IMATU and SAMWU, as unions, were not officially involved,” added Maphalala.
The protest saw all municipal offices completely shut down, as the protesters forced all municipal workers to vacate their offices.
“When municipal management wanted to find out what the strikers’ issues were, it was nearly impossible because even the unions were not given any formal grievance by the employees concerned.”
The ring-leader of the illegal strike used vulgar language directed at management, demanded that he be employed on a permanent basis with immediate effect, threatening that he was prepared to take up arms and kill if his personal demands were not met by management.
Although the illegal strike is over, Ladysmith streets are still filled with trash, which was not collected for the duration of the strike. It will take a few days to restore normal services again, says Maphalala.
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