Local Government refuses to meet worker's needs - round 1 of wage negotiations
The first round of wage negotiations in the municipal sector kicked off today in Boksburg. The parties have a huge mountain to climb after SALGA responded with a below inflation increase in response to the joint demands of the trade unions. SAMWU in concert with IMATU tabled the following proposal for the 2012/2013 financial year commencing in July 2012:
- An across the board increase of 15% or R2 000-00 (whichever is the greater) for all employees falling under the registered scope of the SALGBC (South African Local Government Bargaining Council).
- A minimum wage in the Local Government Sector of R6 000-00.
- The filling of all vacant posts on all Municipal Council approved organograms on a permanent and full time basis.
- And a salary and wage collective agreement in respect of a single year only, (i.e. for the 2012/2013 financial year).
In response to these demands SALGA proposed the following:
- A 4% across the board increase
- No minimum wage for the sector
- No filling of vacancies
- Termination of the agreement governing conditions of service and to terminate the existing disciplinary procedure.
- To cap existing maximum contributions by employers towards medical aid schemes.
The response by SALGA seeks to seriously cut into the standard of living of the existing terms and conditions of municipal workers. The wage increase proposed by SALGA will lead to workers receiving a cut in real wages. This is on top of no wage agreement being reached for 2011/12.
Over and above this the intention to terminate the existing agreements leaves workers vulnerable to significant cuts in benefits such as working hours, overtime rates, maternity leave and sick leave. Furthermore, the removal of minimum wage provisions allows open season on employers introducing starvation level wages in councils across the country.
The unwillingness of SALGA to fill the approximately 30 000 vacancies existing in the municipal sector shows a lack of commitment to service delivery. As can be observed by the daily outbreaks of service delivery protests, communities are fed up with non-delivery of municipal services. This is largely due to the inappropriate allocation of resources to meet the needs of the poor. Some municipalities have key departments like electricity and water service operating at 20% levels of full staff. Furthermore, the high number of vacancies leaves workers having to work excessive amounts of overtime to cover the requirements of service. This chronic usage of overtime is unhealthy for the workers concerned and compromises quality service delivery.
The stance taken by SALGA is at odds with meeting the legitimate needs of workers and communities. Their response is tantamount to declaring war on municipal workers. If SALGA does not drastically improve its start, the possibility that communities can expect further disruption as industrial action will be the only way for municipal workers to fight for a living wage.
Statement issued by Tahir Sema, SAMWU National Media and Publicity Officer, May 21 2012
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