RNM workers continue to protest backpay delay
Workers gathered at Chris Hani Square in Port Shepstone from early this morning.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) workers who have not yet received their backpay protested outside the main municipal offices on Tuesday this week, with protests continuing today (Friday).
This is the third time that they have protested in as many weeks.
The amalgamation of Hibiscus Coast Municipality and Ezinqoleni Municipality in 2016 raised the status of RNM from grade 4 to grade 5.
The grading process was finalised in 2019. The grading of the municipality’s HODs started in 2021 when they were moved from grade 4 to 5, and in 2023, the councillors were also moved to grade 5.
In September, the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) made a decision that backpay of six months and moving other employees to grade 5 would be fair.
However, last month, the workers were told by senior municipal management that they would be paid soon but were later informed that this is not the case.
A worker, Bongani Gcaba, said after a meeting with the relevant parties to decide how they are to be paid, they were told by their shop stewards that they will receive either three months or four months backpay.
He said they were surprised by this turn of events as this was not the agreement and that their union leadership had failed them.
“We then decided as workers to come back on our own and find a solution because we want our money, and we were told that we would get it soon.”
Gcaba said RNM has a court order to review SALGBC’s decision, and while it is underway, the implementation of the decision should be put on hold.
The spokesperson for the municipality, Simon April, confirmed that the municipal manager, Khetha Zulu, did get a court order for the review.
Another meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon, and according to Gcaba, no consensus was reached.
Yet another meeting was held between the workers and their union leadership at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on Thursday afternoon.
The workers now blame the union for not doing what they asked for and for not supporting them when they started protesting again on Tuesday.
Workers say they will continue striking until they get what they want.
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