After it embarked on protests bringing the Joburg CBD to a standstill over two days, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) had denied claims that its demonstrations are motivated by the ANC as part of a
campaign to frustrate the DA-led multi-party coalition government in the municipality. While labelling claims that SAMWU was working with the ANC as “rubbish” the union’s Gauteng Provincial Treasurer Mpho Tladinyane said the union is demanding the implementation of a 2016 wage deal referred to as politically facilitated agreement (PFA), which was meant to regularise payments between staff.
“Where we take our mandate and instructions is from our members, so for them to say we are working with the ANC is really an insult. You see if they have their own obsessions in council with ANC whatsoever it’s well and good but we shouldn’t be dragged into that,” he said. A DA member in council had claimed the strike was caused by the union working with ANC. The strike continued from Friday where they also blocked M1 during the day until late afternoon where they demanded to be addressed by Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse.
For months the union has accused her of neglecting them and claiming that she has been ignoring them since she became Mayor. With the City Council set to decide on a proposed R2 billion loan, Tladinyane hopes the metro will manage to raise the required funds. “They owe us a lot of money from this PFA so if they were doing this loan to pay our debts as long as they know how they will pay it, we don’t care,” he said.
The demonstrating employees also disrupted the very same council meeting meant to discuss their plight. Phalatse said the PFA was to address the salary disparity in the metro. “Due to budget constraints the contract agreement was only partially implemented but on the 19th of August this year, the City under the Joburg multiparty government signed an agreement with both SAMWU and IMATU [Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union] agreeing to continue with the full implementation of the contract,” she said. “According to this agreement, the implementation will be in phases in spite of budget constraints. The first payment has already been made on the 1st of September this year.” She said she will engage the unions.
