The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Gauteng has warned that it’ll not allow the City of Tshwane Municipality to undermine the workers’ rights.
The union says it remains resolute in its commitment to defend the integrity of collective bargaining and the fundamental rights of all municipal workers.
This follows the city’s decision to challenge the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) arbitration award which declared the suspension of five senior officials unlawful and ordered their immediate reinstatement.
The officials, who were expected to return to work on Monday, are linked to an irregular awarding of a tender of the Rooiwal Water Treatment Plant and were suspended on full pay since May last year.
SAMWU Deputy Secretary General Nkhetheni Muthavhi has condemned the municipality’s decision, describing it as a clear and disgraceful affront to the country’s labour laws, collective agreements, and the fundamental principles of justice and fairness.
“The city’s baseless claims of defects in the proceedings and the SALGBC ruling are nothing more than a calculated attempt to escape its legal obligations.
This spurious excuse serves no other purpose than to delay justice, prolong unnecessary legal battles, and waste of taxpayers’ money,” said Muthavhi.
In addition, Muthavhi alleged that former Mayor Cilliers Brink might be the one running the municipality behind the scenes, as he used to challenge and dismiss SALGBC findings.
“It is painfully evident that this review application has been driven by political interference, and we believe it is the former mayor, Brink, who continues to pull the strings behind the scenes.
His failure to accept that he is no longer in charge of the city is both frustrating and disgraceful.
The new administration must not be tempted to bow to the influence of Brink’s misguided leadership.
It is time for the new leadership to stand firm, demonstrate their authority, and show who is truly in charge of the City of Tshwane,” explained Muthavhi.
For its part, the city has defended its reasons to challenge the ruling, arguing that the arbitration ruling and proceedings were flawed.
“After giving time and attention to the arbitration award and its implications, the city is of the view that there were defects in the proceedings and the ruling.
The city is obligated to challenge the ruling and has enlisted the services of a firm of attorneys to act on its behalf in the handling of this legal matter.
The lodging of the notice of application against the SALGBC award freezes the legal effect the ruling has in its entirety,” said city spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo.