Cape Town - Even after a year of discussions and a concerted effort by the city to avert a strike by the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), union members have gone ahead with picketing at 12 sites across the province on Monday.
Striking workers were expected to continue their strike action on Tuesday culminating in a march to the civic centre on Wednesday.
At least 230 union members protested outside Ndabeni Complex, Stock Road Station and a Parow facility at around 9am on Monday, and more groups plan to picket at various other locations including depots in Delft and Khayelitsha on Tuesday, Samwu spokesman Mikel Khumalo said.
He said the workers will march through the city to deliver a memorandum to mayor Patricia de Lille at the Civic Centre on Wednesday.
The protest action comes after restorative relations between the union and the city. The city had contended that after a year’s worth of meetings and “marathon talks” last month, nearly all of Samwu’s 34 grievances had been resolved, and plans were in place to address outstanding issues.
In a statement released on Monday, the city said it was of the opinion the strike action was “unnecessary”, particularly after the city ceded to Samwu’s demand for a written response to outstanding grievances in order to prevent the strike, which the city met within Samwu’s 24-hour deadline last week.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Xanthea Limberg, said the city’s strike contingency plan had been enacted as of on Monday, consisting of additional security personnel outside main facilities, relevant officials at the main depots to make sure protesters follow regulations, and close monitoring of security footage in the case of any damage to public property or infrastructure.
“All of those protests (on Monday) were orchestrated in a peaceful manner, and it hasn’t disrupted any operations at those facilities,” said Limberg.
In a statement, Samwu said it was committed to comply with picketing rules as prescribed. Khumalo said a lack of tangible resolutions catalysed the protest.
“It’s incorrect for the city to say they have resolved these issues,” said Khumalo, who added that the union is tired of merely talking about processes. “We raised those issues more than a year ago.”
Khumalo said the union is protesting issues of pregnant firefighters losing months of pay, workers benefits that have been taken away without conciliation, transportation issues, lack of permanent jobs for workers engaged in various city projects and budget cuts, among others.
The union will consider the city’s response to the memorandum before announcing future plans.
In its statement, the City outlined specific issues it has addressed, including ensuring that pregnant firefighters receive allowances, making transportation available for employees through principles ruled by arbitrators as well as for employees who are attending approved training, resolving technical operations centre grievances, and optimising permanent employment opportunities for External Public Works Programme workers.
“There is a concrete plan in place and they have expressed satisfaction with that plan in many other discussions and meetings, so it is unfortunate that they portray a different sentiment in the media and public,” Limberg said. “The City remains committed to further constructive debate to reach resolution on the outstanding issues.”
“We will continue with the meetings, but the problem is there is no progress,” Khumalo said. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13.
Cape Argus