Security measures were increased at the Ekurhuleni council meeting on Wednesday, September 23, due to a gathering of municipal workers outside the Germiston Civic Centre. Members of the public were not allowed into the public gallery to witness the meeting.
Chairperson of the South African Municipal Worker’s Union (Samwu) for the Tembisa and Kempton Park area, Zweli Xaba, stated unequivocally that they were not on strike but were gathering because municipal workers believed that Ekurhuleni was not delivering on the salary agreement terms agreed to by Samwu and the SA Local Government Association (SALGA).
According to a statement made by Papikie Mohale, the national Samwu spokesperson, the agreement, reportedly signed in early September, included a seven percent salary increase that would be backdated from July 2015. Workers allege that their wages did not include the promised backdated funds.
“We wish to assure all staff that we will not be implementing anything less than the agreement of the bargaining council,” said Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) spokesperson, Themba Gadebe. He went on to say that the matter will be clarified in the council meeting.
