After months of waiting and getting false promises from the municipality. Workers are saying enough is enough. This afternoon, 19 September, at approximately 12:30 municipal workers gathered at the Dan Tloome Chamber to protest saying enough is enough.
According to one of the protestors, who asked to remain anonymous, IMATU (Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union) and SAMU ( South African Municipal Workers’ Union ) workers have been asking the municipality for their Covid danger allowances and the only thing they have been getting are empty promises.
“ Other municipalities have paid out Covid danger allowances but we are yet to receive ours. Every time we have a meeting with the municipality, they postpone and keep telling us they will pay us,” the protestor said.
A municipal worker, who also asked to remain anonymous confirmed that this has been a pending issue since the beginning of the year“ We have been asking for our money since the beginning of the year,” she lamented.
The workers are also fighting for PPE, tools of trade and contract workers are pleading with the municipality for permanent jobs. “ Some of us have been employed by the municipality on a contract basis for three years or more with no promise of being made permanent, another protestor said.
Workers added that without permanent jobs, they are stuck and can’t receive financing from banks which has been of great inconvenience.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh, confirmed that a meeting was scheduled for today between municipal workers and the municipality. “ A memorandum was previously submitted to the municipality so today’s meeting was meant to be a follow-up,” she said.
Myburgh added that no cases have been reported, however police are on the scene monitoring the situation.
Comment from the municipality will be added once received.
