In a general meeting held at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre earlier this morning, striking Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) workers say they are not going back to work as yet.

Even though a proposal has been put to them, they say they are willing to listen and engage, but only if the municipality uplifts the suspension of five workers.

Five workers, including two managers, were suspended last week.

At the meeting, the workers blamed their South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) leadership for not following the mandate they agreed on last week.

They say that last week they agreed that before they start negotiations on the grading and backpay issues, they (SAMWU) must ask the municipality to reinstate the suspended workers.

SAMWU’s first deputy president, Mluleki Mbhele says RNM has given them an offer and that is why they had a meeting to report and present it to the workers.

“They told us we need to go back and discuss the issue of unfairly suspended workers and some of the issues in the proposal.”

Mbhele says they are holding another meeting this afternoon with RNM, where they will let them know about the workers’ view.

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