Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality workers who are members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Workers Union (Imatu) broke out in protest against the alleged mass lay-offs.
READ THIS: Union ready to fight mass retrenchments at Local Municipality
Proudly donning their yellow and navy blue union T-shirts, members picketed outside the municipal building in Victoria Street last Monday.
The messages boldly written across placards made it clear that Imatu will not accept the potential retrenchment of just over 200 of its members and are against it.
One of Imatu’s members questioned why the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) has done nothing to prevent the mass retrenchments from proceeding.
In the application to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the municipality claims that it is in a dire financial state, which necessitates for the reduction of costs to re-establish service delivery. The municipality further claims that its liquidity challenges are as a result of salary disparities, which increased its wage bill.
Vice Chairperson of Imatu, Themba Lyon gave the disgruntled municipal staff belonging to the union feedback following the first session of a meeting with local municipal management.
The meeting took place in the council chambers and the engagement was facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA.)
“We have begun discussing some of the grievances with management. Thus far we have raised three issues before coming out to speak to you. We have not put a proposal forward as yet but we will update you. Our meeting will resume now, but we urge that you all return to work,” said Mr Lyon.
He added that once they have something concrete, all members will be informed of the way forward.
“We agreed on to establish a task team to consider various issues. The task team comprises senior management of the municipality and both unions and is scheduled to meet on April 9. The facilitation conducted by the CCMA will resume on April 16,” said Imatu’s Regional Manager, Cathi Botes.
Mrs Botes added that the process is on-going. At a previous meeting, it was suggested that outsourced services be reduced and that internal staff provide these services.
In November last year, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) SAMWU slammed Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality after its announcement on the mass retrenchments.
SEE MORE:
Protest against mass retrenchments at Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality
SAMWU slams mass Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality retrenchments
Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality retrenchments on hold
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