Municipal workers in Cape Town have been intimidating their colleagues into taking part in a country wide wage strike, the City of Cape Town said on Monday.
“The city has noticed a concerning trend whereby union members are coming into work and trying to intimidate their colleagues into participating in the strike and hindering the delivery of municipal services,” a statement from the city said.
“Incidents of intimidation related to the strike have already been reported throughout Cape Town.”
The city said it had to temporarily close the Khayelitsha Fire Station, the Masiphumelele and Fish Hoek clinics and the driving licence testing centres at Khayelitsha and Fish Hoek after staff were intimidated.
“We respect the right of workers to strike, but strongly condemn striking workers resorting to violence and intimidation,” said the city’s mayoral committee member for corporate services, Demetri Qually.
The SA Municipal Workers Union launched the strike for an 18 percent increase on Monday.
The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has said that it cannot afford to meet the increase and has offered the workers 6,08 percent.
Members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) are due to join the strike on August 19.
“The wage demands are completely unrealistic,” Qually said.
“For each percentile demanded, the city would have to increase its wage budget by R67 million.
“The City cannot reprioritise its budget in this way, because amongst other things vacancies could not be filled, possibly even having to reduce staffing levels.
“Service delivery would be negatively affected.”
Qually said the principle of “no work no remuneration” would apply to all municipal staff on strike.
The strike is expected to affect solid waste services, refuse removal in formal and informal areas, street sweeping, emptying of public bins, the removal of illegal dumping and services to businesses and industries. - Sapa