COSATU calls on concerned all parties to sit down and find an amicable solution to the Pikitup strike

31 March 2016

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is deeply disturbed by the City Of Johannesburg’s use of threats in response to the grievances raised by the Pikitup workers. The federation condemns the acts of vandalism perpetrated by some few unruly elements but fully supports the demands of the workers.

The City Of Johannesburg is choosing an easy way out by trying to paint all workers as criminals and by also threatening them with disciplinary hearings and retrenchments. They are missing an opportunity to provide leadership and amicably resolving the issues raised by workers instead of delegitimizing them.

We support the workers in their demand for R10 000 a month minimum wage and we also call on the municipality to listen to them, with regard to the issues surrounding Pikitup MD Amanda Nair. She has proven to be a very polarising figure and her leadership style has resulted in the development of the existing antagonistic relations between the institution and the workers. The federation that the municipality’s approach to blindly defend her is not a prudent approach. We call on the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration to help bring all the parties together and assist them find a workable solution to these issues because the disciplinary action is not a solution.

The federation also finds it unacceptable that the municipality is prepared to spend R1 million a day hiring scab labour and security instead of sitting down with the workers and listening to their grievances. 

COSATU calls on the workers to refrain from any illegal activities including acts of vandalism. Their demands are legitimate and fair but allowing any acts criminality to happen on their watch delegitimizes their action. We reiterate our call for the Pikitup management and Municipality leadership to sit down with the workers and find a solution to the current impasse.

The federation is doing its ultimate best to ensure that a sustainable solution is found to resolve this situation. We are urging the Pikitup management and The City of Johannesburg Municipality leadership to consider the plight of the striking workers and ratepayers who are already paying from their pockets for waste collection.

These workers provide a very important service to the City of Johannesburg and they deserve to be paid decent wages and also have their working conditions improved. The uncollected refuse also poses a health hazard for the city and its residents. A big and congested city like Johannesburg cannot afford any disease outbreak and those entrusted with the mandate and responsibility of providing leadership to the city should do so immediately before the situation gets worse.     

Issued by Sizwe Pamla, National Spokesperson, COSATU, 31 March 2016