Mayor to meet with trade unions tomorrow amid strikes

Services at the Centurion municipal offices were brought to a standstill on Monday after municipal workers staged a strike.

Residents were asked to avoid the area on Monday, July 24, as striking workers created a fire barrier at the Basden Avenue entrance.

Tshwane has since announced that it will be applying a no-work, no-pay principle.

The offices remained affected as police monitored the situation on Tuesday.

Several fires were started by the strikers and entrances to the site remained closed.

On Tuesday morning, Mayor Cilliers Brink said in a video address that “wild cat strikes” that had broken out across the city had affected the metro’s ability to address service delivery matters.

These especially included power outages and transport as Brink said the metro bus services had been affected.

“We think that these wild-cat strikes and stoppages are in all likelihood related to the fact that the city has not budgeted for salary increases in the present financial year.”

Brink said that the council had resolved to apply for an exemption from the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) to not pay any salary increases this financial year.

“In our present financial situation, we simply can’t afford to [increase salaries].”

He said that it would cost in the region of R600-million more if the metro were to grant the salary increases.

“We are here to execute a rescue mission. We want to save the city from financial ruin so that we have the ability over time to improve services and ensure the financial sustainability of the city.

“We implore employees of the city to wait and to follow proper processes when registering grievances, but it is also important that residents understand the bigger context of things going on.”

Brink said that he respects the right to strike, as long as it is exercised lawfully.

He would be meeting with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) on Wednesday, where he and city manager Johann Mettler would receive the list of grievances from Samwu.

“The financial rescue of the City of Tshwane is in the best interests of residents and city employees. We will be as clear, candid, and open with residents as well as our workforce on this issue in the months ahead,” he concluded.

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