SAMWU refutes claims that it is divided
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) would like to refute an article and its allegations that appeared today in the Sowetan Newspaper on page 11. We would like to state in no uncertain terms that the Union is not divided over its Wage Curve planned national protest action or the fight against corruption.
We are not aware of any divisions from our members over the national action the Union is about to embark on. The author of the article in the Sowetan misconstrued comment given to him, to make it seem like the Union is "sharply divided" and quotes an anonymous source that spread false information against the Union and its leadership.
The national protest action the Union is preparing to take has got nothing to do with the ANC's National Conference to take place in Mangaung. The national leadership of SAMWU remains committed to the decision taken by its Central Executive Committee meeting to embark on protest action, to force the employer body to concede to its reasonable and legitimate demands.
The meeting between SAMWU in the Limpopo province and the employer body in Limpopo the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) will not affect the decision by the Union to take protest action.
The Union is still consulting and mobilising its member's around the following demands;
Wage curve agreement = The Union is demanding that the Wage Curve agreement it secured three years ago be implemented. This agreement is an attempt to pave the way for a proper wage structure to exist in the Municipal sector, where jobs and associated salaries are properly graded. This will ensure that many workers who for years have been underpaid will now receive the correct payment. The effect of the agreement is that payment will be backdated to September 2009.
Corruption = The Union is also demanding that Government begin dealing decisively with corruption in the sector.
On Friday this week, the Unions membership in Kwazulu Natal will down tools calling for the above demands.
Statement issued by SAMWU General Secretary Walter Theledi, October 24 2012
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