Johannesburg – The City of Johannesburg on Wednesday said it was hoping to reach a settlement with striking workers at its waste-management entity, Pikitup, by the end of this week if all parties agree on current negotiations.
The City Council met on Wednesday following an urgent request by the Democratic Alliance caucus leader in Johannesburg, Vasco da Gama, to discuss the crisis at Pikitup as a result of the four-week long strike.
About 4 000 Pikitup workers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) embarked on an unprotected strike since March 9, demanding wage hikes from R6 000 to R10 000 a month and that Managing Director Amanda Nair step down.
Matshidi Mfikoe, a member of the mayoral committee (MMC) responsible for the environment and infrastructure services portfolio, on Wednesday said negotiations to end the strike were ongoing between the City, Pikitup and Samwu following a process that started at CCMA with mediation.
She said the process had been given the green light by all parties.
“We are hoping that if all goes well, we would see the strike coming to an end by Friday. We hope that the mandating team will be able to solve it. But we cannot disclose how much we are putting on the table before it is presented and accepted by all parties,” Mfikoe said.
Mfikoe was speaking during a media briefing after the Council meeting at the City’s headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
Mayor Parks Tau, Council Speaker Constance Bapela and MMC for finance, Geoffrey Makhubo, also attended the briefing.
Since the strike began, Pikitup has been paying R1 million a day to hire private contractors to pick up refuse and for security escorts to prevent attacks.
But, Tau told journalists that the City could not afford the increases of up to R10 000 a month in salaries that Samwu was demanding.
Samwu is also demanding salary parity across all entities of the City.
“Our indications are that it would cost R1 billion per annum at Pikitup on salaries, and that would be R3.4 billion per annum across the board at all City entities,” Tau said.
Tau added that this problem emanated from 2011 when the City absorbed 1 500 workers that were previously under the employ of contractors.
Asked how much Pikitup had paid private contractors to date since the strike began, Tau said that the City remained concerned about the implications of the strike because it came with costs.
“We will be receiving a cost update today. But you have to remember to balance the R1 million a day with the “no work no pay” principle applying to striking workers. But the City and Pikitup are still financially stable,” Tau said.
This was the fourth strike by Pikitup workers since November 2015, over the same reasons, though Nair was cleared by the courts on charges of corruption.
Last week, temporary workers at Pikitup were attacked in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, leaving seven people injured.
Johannesburg Metro Police Services were also roped in to provide security to temporary workers and private contractors.
Private security companies ADT, CSS and Chubb have also pledged to provide security support services for Pikitup refuse collection crews.
On Friday, the City of Johannesburg said it was worried about the health and environmental impact of the ongoing strike at Pikitup after a dead rodent tested positive for the Plague.
Meanwhile, Pikitup on Wednesday appealed to the Johannesburg community: residents, business owners, hawkers, schools, motorists, commuters and pedestrians to bag their excess waste, in order to avoid health risks.
African News Agency
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