The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the City of Tshwane has vowed not to back down on its initial 2021/2022 request for the increase of salaries to its members by 3.5% and 5.4% respectively at the metro.
This after the two parties failed to find each other during two meetings held under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on June 10 and June 23, 2025.
SAMWU’s Tshwane Regional Secretary Donald Monakisi told YOU FM Newshour listeners that the City of Tshwane doesn’t even want to negotiate the 3.5% that was agreed on with the previous administration.
“We were hoping that the employer will at least offer something tangible before we take the matter to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) for a fresh hearing on July 21.
Remember, the Labour Court Judge Snyman remitted the matter to the Bargaining Council although he exempted the employer from paying the 5.4% in the same judgment.
Maybe I should also indicate that as SAMWU we have taken that decision under review,” said Monakisi.
The union has accused the municipality, which is governed by a multiparty coalition, of simply wanting to avoid the Bargaining Council without a convincing plan to increase its member’s salaries.
“This process was done under the previous administration (led by the DA).
Maybe because they thought that they came in last year, maybe we can come to an agreement of some sort.
But unfortunately, as the union we’re not budging in terms of the salary adjustment because we understand the implication of this increase, so in relation to what they are offering is basically equals to nothing,” explained Monakisi.
Furthermore, the Regional Secretary said the municipality was convinced that both parties will resolve the matter, before proceeding to the Bargaining Council.
“But of course we felt as the union that what they’re offering now didn’t meet our expectation.
Our expectation was that the employer will at least adjust the salaries by 3.5% before we discuss the back pay or anything else and then we can begin with the negotiation and work out the modalities of how our members will be paid their monies going forward,” remarked Monakisi.
The union said it remains committed to these engagements in the hope of securing an amicable resolution in the best interest of workers.
In addition, it has vowed to continue challenging the decision of the Labour Court to exempt the municipality from paying the 5.4% salary increase to its members.
“The prolonged delay in payment has imposed significant financial strain on municipal workers, who continue to provide essential services under increasingly difficult conditions.
In this regard, SAMWU’s legal team is diligently preparing for the exemption hearing, with the aim of securing a just outcome for our members,” said the Regional Secretary.
SAMWU has called on the employer to act with integrity and urgency by prioritising the well-being of its workforce, adding that its members have “carried the burden of austerity for far too long, and that the City of Tshwane must do right by them.”
