Cape Town firefighters fear they will be fired
30 April 2021
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) says the City of Cape Town is planning to dismiss about 500 firefighters currently facing disciplinary hearings for going on an unprotected strike in 2019.
But the City says no decision has been taken to dismiss the firefighters and that a proposal has been made to resolve the matter so that “any possible sanction of dismissal can be avoided”.
SAMWU Cape Metro organiser Archie Hearne said the strike was over a demand for eight-hour shifts instead of the standard 24-hour shift for firefighters.
Hearne said the City was served notice of the grievance in 2018 but nothing was addressed. “In October 2019 the firefighters took a stance and started working eight hours. The matter was ultimately taken to court by the City and the strike was deemed unlawful.”