Municipal wage negotiations commence - we will fight for our demands

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) submitted its consolidated demands for the 2012/13 financial year to SALGA (South African Local Government Association). This will now start a process of negotiations that will hopefully culminate in an agreement covering 230 000 Local Government workers across the length and breadth of the country. Our demands are as follows:

• 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).

Our demands stem from the failure to conclude a collective agreement last year with SALGA, which to date has not been resolved. Municipal workers continue to suffer from the effects of soaring petrol and energy costs. Employed workers have to shoulder the burden of unemployed family members, as the State has failed to provide any meaningful unemployed benefits for the millions of unemployed in this country.

The state in the form of the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, has indicated in his budget that the Government intends to cut the wage bill of state employees. We expect this neo-liberal logic to permeate the Local Government sphere, particularly as the Municipal Systems Amendment Act insists that SALGA consults the Fiscal and Finance Commission of the Department of Finance during the course of negotiations.

SAMWU's Collective Bargaining Officer, Dale Forbes, believes that a tough round of negotiations lie ahead, "this year will see the conservative macro-economic policies of the existing Government clashing with the legitimate needs of workers. Workers have had enough of corrupt, wasteful Local Government, whilst their needs are being neglected. We know we have to fight for every rand but we are determined to reach our goal."

Statement issued by Tahir Sema, SAMWU National Media and Publicity Officer, April 18 2012

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