RESPONSE TO RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND CITY OF JOHANNESBURG COUNCIL DECISIONS

August 8, 2024

Good morning, members of the media.

Thank you for honouring this invite.

1. Recall of Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Petrus Mashishi Region (PMR) has been closely monitoring the recent political developments within the City of Johannesburg. The latest of these developments is the call for the removal of the current Mayor, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, by political parties and civil society organizations.

Since the 2021 local government elections, the City of Johannesburg has had seven Mayors, and as things stand, residents and workers are due for an eighth Mayor any day from today. As SAMWU, we have always argued that the constant changes in the City have the potential to destabilize the City further and negatively impact the already dysfunctional service delivery.

As a Union, we are not necessarily interested in who governs the City; our primary obsession is with the stability and efficiency of our local government, which are critical to ensuring that essential services are delivered to all residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

As workers and community members of the City of Johannesburg, we have been experiencing instability since the beginning of this political term, especially with the introduction of coalition government concepts.

These frequent changes and shifts in leadership have continuously disrupted service delivery, affecting our daily lives and work. The constant political manoeuvring detracts from the city’s ability to focus on and address the pressing issues facing our communities.

SAMWU is not opposed to the removal of the Mayor. However, we urge all political parties to agree that the person they elect will remain in office until the next local government elections.

It is crucial for the stability of the city that the elected Mayor serves a full term, allowing for consistent leadership and policy implementation. This agreement is vital to avoid further disruptions and ensure that the city’s governance is stable and effective.

The recent developments following the National Elections have introduced the Government of National Unity (GNU), which is expected to cause further ripples in local government. This will likely contribute to more instability and further degrade the quality of service delivery.

The formation of the GNU, while aimed at fostering national cohesion, appears to have unintended consequences at the local level, creating additional layers of bureaucracy and potential conflicts that hinder effective governance.

In light of these challenges, SAMWU calls for greater dialogue to address the consequences of this political instability on workers and the community at large.

We believe that a collaborative approach is essential to finding sustainable solutions. It is imperative that all stakeholders, including political leaders, civil society, and labour unions, come together to discuss and mitigate the impacts of political instability. Only through open and constructive dialogue can we hope to achieve a stable and effective local government that serves the interests of all its citizens.

Political stability is of paramount importance for the City of Johannesburg. Stable governance ensures that policies and programs aimed at improving service delivery can be implemented effectively and without interruption.

It also builds confidence among residents and investors, fostering an environment conducive to growth and development. Without stability, the city cannot hope to address the numerous challenges it faces, including poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure decay.

2. Politically Facilitated Agreement (PFA)

We have also taken note of the City of Johannesburg Council’s approval of the new Common Key Salary Scale. This scale aims to address the existing salary disparities between the City and its Municipal Entities, which is a step in the right direction for improving workers’ benefits and well-being.

Addressing these disparities is crucial for ensuring fairness and equity within the municipal workforce. It is also an important step toward motivating and retaining skilled workers who are essential for delivering quality services.

However, we are disappointed by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) refusal to vote in favor of this resolution. Their stance, along with their collaboration with the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU), which has threatened to halt the PFA through legal action, is concerning.

The DA’s position undermines efforts to create a more equitable and just working environment for municipal employees. It also highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving consensus and cooperation among political parties on issues that directly impact workers’ livelihoods.

To provide context, in 2016, a five-month strike by Pikitup workers led to the creation of the PFA, which was later submitted to the CCMA as a final settlement and adopted. The PFA was initially implemented for Level A and B workers by the City of Johannesburg, but SAMWU believes it was not fully or correctly implemented, especially for Levels C and D.

The partial implementation of the PFA has left many workers without the benefits and protections they were promised. This has created significant frustration and dissatisfaction among the workforce, who feel that their concerns are not being adequately addressed.

The majority of black workers were below the minimum wage threshold, while white workers were above it. SAMWU has worked to correct these salary disparities, moving from Grade 8 to a Grade 10 salary key scale to ensure fairer wages for all employees.

The salaries of City of Johannesburg employees have been adversely affected since 1995, when the employer stopped salary progression in preparation for iGoli 2000. Despite this, the employer continued to withhold progression payments even after 1995. The PFA is meant to reinstate notches and benchmarking to correct these historical injustices.

It is important to note that IMATU was not part of the original strike and are not signatories of the agreement. When the City of Johannesburg was declared Grade 10 in 2016, only the City Manager’s office and councilors benefited, leaving the workforce excluded from these benefits.

In 2022, the matter was revisited, and IMATU was invited to participate in the process. Despite the agreement to keep communications restricted, IMATU issued a newsletter in December, leading to a breach of the terms of reference.

As a result, SAMWU and the employer continued negotiations without IMATU, a decision supported by legal precedent. The breach of the terms of reference by IMATU disrupted the negotiation process and undermined the trust and cooperation necessary for effective bargaining. It also highlighted the need for strict adherence to agreed-upon protocols to ensure fair and transparent negotiations.

The City agreed to a once-off payment of R4000 to all employees and a notch increment over three years, starting with the 2023-2024 financial year, amounting to R416 million. This agreement represents a significant investment in the well-being of municipal workers and acknowledges their vital contributions to the city’s operations.

The next steps involved benchmarking within the City and other Grade 10 municipalities, which concluded in June and was to be tabled to the Council. The benchmarking process is essential for ensuring that salary scales and benefits are competitive and reflective of the skills and responsibilities of municipal employees.

The unholy alliance between IMATU and the DA should not take away the gains made by SAMWU in the interest of workers.

It was SAMWU and its members who went on this protracted strike, with many workers enduring the “no work, no pay” principle.

In fact, we have known IMATU to not be a campaigning or striking union; they cannot now want to take away the gains that came as a result of the sweat of SAMWU members.

This behaviour underscores the persistent issue of inequality, with white employees earning significantly more than their black counterparts. The delayed and reactive approach by IMATU raises questions about their commitment to fair and equitable negotiations. It also points to the broader systemic issues of racial inequality that persist within our institutions and society.

SAMWU remains resolute in our commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the PFA and fighting for a living wage for all municipal workers in local government.

We will not allow any party to derail our progress. The fight for a living wage is fundamental to ensuring that all workers can support themselves and their families with dignity. It is also crucial for addressing the broader issues of poverty and inequality that affect our communities.

In conclusion, SAMWU calls for an end to political instability and for a focus on constructive dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders. We urge the City of Johannesburg Council and all political parties to prioritize the needs and well-being of workers and residents. Together, we can build a more stable, equitable, and prosperous city for all.

Issued by SAMWU PMR Region (Johannesburg), 8 August 2024