SAMWU special NEC calls off National Strike Action
Our Special National Executive Committee met on the 27th August 2011 convened to assess the strike action and wage negotiations under the auspices of South African Local Government Bargaining Council [SALGBC]. The Special NEC was attended by all nine Provinces
The Special NEC welcome the response by thousands of members who took to the streets from the 15/8/2011 in support of their demands who during the past two weeks showed once more their unity in action that led the employer body (Salga) to capitulate to its pathetic 6, 08% offer although not enough to yield in agreement to end the strike. It is this determination that pushed Salga to shift its offer. However the Special NEC noted that members were beginning to experience intimidation in the form of court interdict, dismissal threats etc including but not limited to the following:
- Most members have begun going back to work due to a number of factors both from organizational point of view and employer body's intransigent position to make meaningful movement in the wage negotiations to resolve the dispute.
- Some members were prepared to continue with the strike to force the employer body to shift from its intransigent position for better and decent wage increase agreement; and
- Some employers have intimidated members including approaching the courts for interdict against workers' different demonstrations and against certain categories of workers;
The Special NEC further noted that Salga's arrogant and unprincipled attitude towards workers do not in character to that capital that treats workers as commodities instead of responding meaningfully to workers' demands instead it chose to prioritize its conference. The following represents but few examples of Salga's inability to intervene constructively in the challenges facing the sector.
- its deafening silence to rampage corruption within local government which denies communities better, quality and sustainable services;
- lack of visibility when communities had to rise to demand for quality service from municipalities;
- for supporting huge remuneration for section 56 and 57 managers whilst poverty, unemployment and joblessness remains rife within communities;
- spending over R100, 000 of public funds to advertise on newspapers for its propaganda against workers' genuine struggle;
The Special NEC further noted that had it not by this attitude always displayed by Salga more quality service could have been provided and extended to communities especially those that were previously denied by the apartheid regime. This attitude represents but the continuation of restrained sound labour relations in the sector to the disadvantage of same communities whilst on the other side the wage gap between the highly paid and lowly paid workers widens bigger and bigger since the advent of present local government trajectory.
The Special NEC further noted that Salga desperately tried to thwart the wage negotiations for the 2011/2012 financial period despite the current three-year agreement providing for either party to open wage negotiations if the consumer price index [CPI] falls outside the agreed range (i.e. the minimum of 5% and the maximum of10%). To the contrary and typical of Salga it did the unexpected within public sector of declaring dispute on the same agreement which it lost dismally.
At a time of the strike Salga failed to justify its 6, 08% pathetic offer whilst it found it befitting to propose an increase of 7% for councilors especially metropolitan based councilors who already earn well over R700, 000 per annum compared to the municipal worker's just below R56, 000 per annum and further compounded by huge salaries paid to sections 56 and 57 whilst so many remain in the pool of poverty and unemployed.
Whilst noting the resilient response by members to push the employer body to shift from its offer, the Special NEC took into account the need to maintain unity of workers at the same time not to conclude any agreement that begins to undermine or compromise workers' resolve for better and decent wage increase. As a result the Special NEC resolved:
1. That the national wage strike be called off with effect from Monday the 29th August 2011 and the provincial leadership must use the period from the Special NEC until Monday morning to brief the membership about the Special NEC decision;
2. That the negotiations with the employer body aimed at concluding a decent wage increase for workers including any other engagement sought to bring about the agreement must continue provided that should the employer body refuse to conclude such agreement that takes into account this, the Union must not accept it or enter into agreement with.
3. That the employer body must be condemned for not showing commitment to resolve the strike which has left many communities negatively affected by at a time when workers were prepared to continue with their strike action instead it chose to continue with its congress in Durban.
Statement issued by SAMWU General Secretary, Mthandeki Nhlapo, August 30 2011
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