RNM workers: Why are we not graded?

Why have Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) workers not been graded after an agreement was signed?

This question was raised at a meeting with RNM mayor Zodwa Mzindle when she met with SAMWU members at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on Tuesday morning last week.

Workers asked what is holding the municipality back from paying them under grade 5. Also, they feel it is the most critical grievance in the memorandum that they had submitted recently.

The mayor’s response to the question was that they are now waiting for the bargaining council, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), to respond.

“We are waiting for approval from SALGA as they had asked the municipality to write a letter within 10 days of an order being granted, to make an application that employees be moved to grade 5.”

Furthermore, she has asked the municipal manager Khetha Zulu to follow up on the issue with SALGA because they have not received a response.

“An EXCO meeting was held, where the municipal manager was again reminded to follow-up, and the same issue was discussed at an ANC caucus.”

Also, the workers say that on their payslips the backpay is reflected as ‘advance payment’ and not compensation, which is incorrect as it’s not an ‘advance’.

Mzindle said that she would find out why it’s reflected as ‘advance’ and not as compensation.

Another issue was that workers felt they paid a large amount of tax on their first backpay. However, when they enquired about it from the salaries department, they were told to enquire at SARS.

“When we asked SARS, we were told to ask our accounting officer. We have not received any answers till today, as to why so much money was taken,” said a worker.

The mayor and the workers agreed that they invite SARS to a meeting to explain the tax issue.

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