The City of Tshwane pleaded poverty and said it cannot afford to pay the salary increases for the 2023 financial year because of financial constraints.
However the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) has approached the South African Local Government Bargaining Council to get an order ordering the municipality to comply with the salary and wage collective agreement and pay the stipulated 5.4% salary increase as per the agreement set down in 2021.
The union obtained the compliance order on Friday to ensure the Metro doesn’t back down on the agreement concluded between Imatu, Samwu and SALGA in 2021.
Imatu said the City of Tshwane has 10 days to comply with the agreement “failing which, the municipality will be subjected to a compliance arbitration”. Imatu chairperson Melita Baloyi, said the union is disappointed that it had to force the metro to comply with that agreement.
“The chairperson of Imatu Tshwane Region notes with disappointment that I had to go through the compliance order route to force the employer to do right by its employees, and to adhere to the agreement to implement the 5.4% salary increase.
“This increase was due and payable on 26 July 2023, but Imatu members did not see the increase added to their salaries on this date,” said Baloyi in a statement.
“This comes against the background of a sluggish economy and high increases in the costs of transportation, school fees, and the City of Tshwane’s water, rates, and electricity tariff hikes amongst other social financial challenges.
“I would like to salute Imatu for remaining resolute in upholding and fighting for the rights of its members and by successfully obtaining this compliance order issued on 27 July 2023,” she added.
At the same time, the City of Tshwane was granted an interdict against Samwu members who have been demonstrating since Wednesday at Tshwane House. But Samwu Gauteng provincial chairperson, Mpho Tladinyane says their members are not on Strike.
“What we can indicate is that Samwu members were never on strike in the city. You would remember that on Wednesday 26 of July 2023 Samwu applied for paid time off and a subsequent march to the City of Tshwane headquarters. So the city granted both the time off and also permission for Samwu members to march to Tshwane House which is the city’s headquarters.So there was never a strike.
“Unfortunately, the executive Mayor didn’t receive that particular memorandum on Wednesday and as a result arrangements were made. The city manager and the mayor were able to address workers on Friday on issues that were supposed to be dealt with on Wednesday. So we can’t say that members were on strike.
“On Wednesday the City had granted paid time off and on Friday we had a meeting with the executive mayor and the city manager,” he added.
Samwu said it will address its members on Monday regarding the interdict. “So given the fact that the court order has been issued. We will engage our members on Monday. We will call all our members to indicate that there is this particular court order so it can be properly implemented,” said Tladinyane.
