Pikitup cleans up as strike continues

The streets of downtown Johannesburg are filled with dirt left by the striking Pikitup workers. File picture: Boxer Ngwenya

The streets of downtown Johannesburg are filled with dirt left by the striking Pikitup workers. File picture: Boxer Ngwenya

Published Nov 30, 2015

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Johannesburg - The city of Johannesburg’s refuse removal agency Pikitup said on Monday it would implement a waste removal plan to deal with garbage piling up around the city as workers continued with a strike.

“Additional vehicles, equipment and manpower have been made available to augment capacity at each depot. Residents and business owners are urged to take out their bins according to their normal refuse collection schedule. All excess refuse in bags can be placed next to the 240 litre waste bin on the scheduled day of collection,” the company said.

Pikitup urged residents to drop off waste at their nearest garden refuse sites.

“Pikitup management apologises for the inconvenience caused, as a result of the interruption to waste collection services.”

Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) embarked on an illegal strike last week. The workers demanded they be paid R10 000 a month. They also demanded that Pikitup managing director Amanda Nair resign.

A court interdict against workers prohibiting them from further strike action was obtained by Pikitup last week. However, workers have continued the stoppage.

Pikitup said meetings between Samwu and management on Saturday and on Monday did not yield any agreement and added that it would not negotiate further until workers ended their strike.

“The board, the management team of Pikitup and the shareholder maintains that we cannot continue to engage and negotiate with the union on the back of the illegal work stoppage … we will be setting a wrong precedent.”

“Pikitup commits that once workers go back to work and Samwu calls off the illegal work stoppage, we will expeditiously address the issues to resolve them in the best interest of all the affected parties. In the meantime, we will allow Samwu the space to consult with their membership based on the management proposal.”

Johannesburg’s mayoral committee member responsible for the environment and infrastructure, Tshidi Mfikoe, has condemned the strike.

“Strike action should always be a last resort and the decision by Samwu to embark on an unprotected work stoppage is condemned in the strongest possible terms. Disciplinary processes and legal action will be taken against those responsible for the intimidation, violence and damage to property that ensued,” Mfikoe said.

African News Agency

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