Reckless union leadership derail local government salary and wage negotiations

28 May 2015

SALGA after the third round of salary and wage negotiations remains hopeful despite the disorganised manner the Union leadership has approached the negotiations.

It appears to us that the Unions decided from the first day of the third round of negotiations 26th May 2015 to the last day 28th May 2015, to frustrate negotiations and threaten the country with national strike action, in-spite of ample opportunities available to the negotiations process to avert strike action.

SAMWU in particular chose to undermine the spirit of negotiations by removing their leadership from negotiations to ensure no progress is made, leak factually incorrect information to the media to deceive the public and insist on frustrating the negotiations with issues that have nothing to do with negotiations. A case in point; the Union on the second day decided to bring municipal employees from the City of Cape Town to the negotiations to protest outside the venue, which derailed the negotiating process.

We as SALGA categorically state that at no time during the negotiations did we say salary increases (cost of living adjustments) will be subject only to performance, what we did say was that the payment of salary increases to municipal employees, notch (merit) increases will be based on performance. To demonstrate SALGA’s commitment to the negotiations we even tabled a revised offer to our 270 000 municipal workers as follows;

An improved 5.9% salary increase for all employees (CPI + 1.4%)

For year two, CPI + 0.25%

For year three CPI + 0.25%

Proposals on the home owner allowance have been placed by SALGA, which require further consideration.

Regrettably, the Unions refused point-blank to negotiate/revise its demands and instead chose to stick to its unreasonable and unaffordable demands of 11% across the board increases as it was tabled in the last round of negotiations.

The Unions also continue to refuse to discuss a service charter for the sector to improve service delivery for the benefit of all citizens of South Africa, improve good governance and fight against corruption.

As SALGA we continue to approach these negotiations in a transparent, responsible, consistent and honest manner with the interest of municipalities and communities in our minds and ask that the Unions do the same.

The salary and wage negotiations can be resolved at the negotiating table, it is irresponsible for the Unions to be insistent on a nationwide strike when we can resolve the negotiations at the negotiating table, which will give workers a fair and reasonable salary increase that is affordable.

Statement issued by SALGA, May 28 2015