Workers at the 10111 call centre have downed tools after accusing the South African Police Service (SAPS) of refusing to readjust their salaries.
The call centre workers claim that an agreement was reached with the former National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega to review and readjust their salaries as they are underpaid compared to call centre workers in other government departments.
Their spokesperson, Bethuel Nkuna told The Star newspaper that a task team was formed to determine whether their claims of being underpaid were accurate.
“They found that we were indeed being underpaid and recommended that our salary structure needs to be altered, but when the suspended national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane took over he didn't endorse the changes, but wanted to rather evaluate our members’ positions and eventually change our positions in accordance to the Police Act,” Nkuna said.
According to Nkuna, this meant that call centre workers would not only be forced to reapply for their jobs, but would then earn entry level salaries equivalent to that of constables regardless of their experience.
“Based on that idea, we refused and have resorted to marching,” Nkuna said.
In their statement, employees say recommendations were never implemented, despite being supported by Organisational Development and substantiated by the South African Police Union.
And despite marches to the offices of the former National Police Commissioner, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and SAPS provincial offices, very little to nothing has been done, they say.
Meanwhile, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has criticised the the march, saying the it was an attempt by their detractors “aimed at creating a false impression that they have numbers and can take the employer head on, ignorant of the fact that there are processes that have not come to an end, and therefore jumping the gun.”
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said the process of conciliation and mediation had passed without any resolution to the matter. He said Popcru was proceeding with the arbitration and are currently awaiting a date for the hearing.
“We remain resolute in addressing the matters through correct procedures as provided for by the Constitution of the Council, and marching or striking can only seek to undermine the process which is underway,” Mamabolo said.
“We are of the firm view that the ongoing arbitration process will be able to resolve the 10111 matter in a way that will be for the benefit of all workers.”