The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has declared a dispute with the City of Cape Town over claimed discrimination against pregnant firefighters.
Cosatu has given mayor Patricia de Lille until Friday to fix “this problem” or face the Equality Court.
Female firefighters lose allowances because they are deemed non-operational, Samwu says.
Non-operational male firefighters still receive their full allowance.
Details of the discrimination emerged from a Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) hearing on Friday.
“The City of Cape Town professes to be an employer that applies all its policies equally and consistently among all staff members. Our investigation revealed that this is not the case in fire services, where females are discriminated against,” said Samwu organiser Archie Hearne.
He added that the city was “rolling back years of struggle” meant to prevent discrimination against women for “their child-bearing responsibilities”.
“What’s worse is the city is currently exhibiting the life of an iconic South African, Nelson Mandela, who dedicated his life to fighting all forms of discrimination.”
The city’s executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, said the monthly allowance of 22.8 percent was a collective agreement based on an average of 10 shifts a month for being on stand-by at a fire station or working night shift, Sundays and on public holidays.
“Staff on a call-out roster are also paid the allowance.
However the allow- ance is only payable when staff perform the work for which the allowance is payable.
“In the case of the pregnant firefighters, they will not be able to perform the work ordinarily associated, like fighting fires, rescue, and attending to accidents as this will endanger their health and that of their foetus.”
He said that if it allowed pregnant women to work, the city, as an employer, would be in breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“The agreement specifically stipulates that in order to receive the allowance they ‘must be available for the performance of operational and/or other duties inclusive of weekends and public holidays’.”
Samwu and Cosatu are looking at taking the matter to the Labour Court and Equality Court. - The Cape Argus