A national strike is looming in the local government sector, the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) said on Thursday.
Spokesman Tahir Sema said the union would consult its members on Monday on salary negotiations, corruption and the Municipal Systems Amendment Act.
“The central executive council today (Thursday) pronounced that we are not going to settle for anything less than two digits,” he said.
He said the union wanted an 18 percent salary hike while the employer, the SA Local Government Association, was offering 6.08
percent.
“We expect feedback on Wednesday on whether members want to go on strike on not.”
He said the union was disappointed that President Jacob Zuma had signed the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill into effect, even though he had assured the union prior to the local elections in May that he would not do so.
The act is intended to “depoliticise” municipalities and ensure they appoint skilled people.
“The act as it stands limits the bargaining power of the union. We will fight politically, legally and on the street,” he said.
Samwu called off a threatened strike a week before local government elections on May 18 after last-minute talks with the African National Congress, led by Zuma. - Sapa