POLITICS

Why Pikitup workers are protesting - SAMWU

Union wants investigation into irregular tenders

Noble Pikitup workers to picket today

Pikitup workers will be gathering in Joubert park (next to jhb Art Gallery) this morning from 10:30am onwards, for a report back, with regards to a meeting SAMWU had with politicians and the Johannesburg City Manager.

After workers receive a report back, a mandate will be sort from the striking workers, as to the next step forward. Pickets outside the many Pikitup depots will begin from today.

We are not willing to compromise on our key demands we have put to the Pikitup Management, which are as follows;

- An investigation must be commissioned into corruption and irregular tenders that were awarded and the Managing Director must me be suspended, pending this investigation. Tenders riddled with corruption amounting to 100's of millions of Rands were given out.

- Money must stop being wasted on contract workers, temporary contracts must be changed to permanent employment.

- We are also demanding that Management look into wage disparities that exist and have existed in the department for many years.

Managers and Executives of Pikitup continue to be intimidated, for supporting calls for an investigation into corruption at Pikitup. Many senior officials of the department have now had their computer hard drives wiped clean of incriminating evidence.

Statement issued by SAMWU's Shop Steward Phumlile Shange, April 7 2011

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