First day of municipal workers' strike sees unacceptable levels of violence and intimidation of non-striking workers

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) commenced strike action today 15 August 2011.

The first day of the strike saw 280 staff or 1,11% of the City of Cape Town's workforce absent from work without authorisation. Despite these low figures, approximately 1 200 striking workers which includes a number of off duty SAMWU members and members who had completed their shifts, marched to the Civic Centre today to hand over a memorandum to the Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson at 13:00.

The disparity in figures suggests that some staff may have clocked in for work this morning and then joined the march later. Line Managers will be investigating this and applying the principle of ‘no work, no remuneration' for staff who have left work without authorisation. The City has noticed a concerning trend whereby union members are coming into work and trying to intimidate their colleagues into participating in the strike and hindering the delivery of municipal services.

Unfortunately, incidents of intimidation related to the strike have already been reported throughout Cape Town.

The City has had to temporarily close the Khayelitsha Fire Station, the Masiphumelele and Fish Hoek Clinics and the Driving Licence Testing Centres at Khayelitsha and Fish Hoek owing to intimidation of its staff. In addition, strikers intimidated workers at the Fish Hoek and Kraaifontein Depots of the Roads & Stormwater Department, the Helderberg Library and Khayelitsha Clinic who were not prepared to strike.

The City strongly condemns these acts of intimidation and will take a hard line against this sort of behaviour.

"We respect the right of workers to strike, but strongly condemn striking workers resorting to violence and intimidation - which negatively affects innocent residents," said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Demetri Qually.

Residents are requested to please report any acts of violence or vandalism related to the strike as well as incidents of intimidation or harassment of employees not participating in the strike or members of the public to the Metro Police Control Centre on 021 596 1999.

The strike by members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) is still due to commence on Friday 19 August 2011.

Both strikes will run until wage negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) are finalised. SALGA has confirmed that it cannot afford to meet the demand of an 18% wage increase, and its latest offer is 6,08%.

SAMWU members will again march to the Civic Centre tomorrow Tuesday 16 August 2011, to hand over a memorandum to representatives of SALGA Western Cape. The march will start at approximately 11:30, following the same route from Keizergracht, via Oswald Pirow and Hertzog Boulevard reaching the Civic Centre at approximately 13:00. Traffic Services will be on duty to direct traffic, but motorists are warned that congestion may occur and are advised to avoid the area.

"The wage demands are completely unrealistic. For each percentile demanded, the City would have to increase its wage budget by R67 million. The City cannot reprioritise its budget in this way, because amongst other things vacancies could not be filled, possibly even having to reduce staffing levels. Service delivery would be negatively affected," said Alderman Qually.

The principle of ‘no work no remuneration' will apply to all municipal staff on strike. Employees engaged in designated essential services, including City Health, Traffic Services, Metro Police, Law Enforcement Services, Fire and Emergency Services and the provision of water, electricity and sanitation may not participate in strike action. As municipal services are going to be affected, contingency measures have been put in place to minimise the impact on service delivery.

The strike is, however, expected to affect solid waste services as most of the Solid Waste Management Department staff are allowed to strike for a certain time period. Affected services include refuse removal in formal and informal areas, street sweeping, emptying of public bins and the removal of illegal dumping, as well as services to businesses and industries.

The City will endeavour to remove refuse on the scheduled refuse collection day, but this is dependent on the availability of resources and staff on that day. Should refuse not be collected by 21:00, residents are requested to please move their bins back inside their properties and put them out, together with any accumulation of bagged refuse, the following week on the scheduled day. In informal settlements, residents must please make use of the shipping containers placed throughout the area. The City will keep residents informed of the unfolding situation or amendments to this arrangement as required.

Residents are urged to assist the City during this time by not dumping waste and by not letting wet waste accumulate if not collected. The following drop-off sites will be open on Mondays to Saturdays from 08:30 to 17:00 and on Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00:

Drop-off facilities are also available at the following disposal facilities:

For any queries regarding the drop-off facilities, residents can contact 021 442 8136.

For any other enquiries, residents can contact the City's Call Centre on 0860 103 089.

The City apologises for any inconvenience during this difficult period and asks residents for their patience and cooperation to ensure that the city stays clean and safe in the weeks to come.

Statement issued by Alderman Demetri Qually, Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, City of Cape Town, August 15 2011

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