Unions are concerned that a shift in political power at metropolitan municipalities after the elections could see a purge of ANC-aligned workers. Tshwane‚ Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay are three cities where the Democratic Alliance – which is outspoken about the deployment of cadres in key positions who are not suitably qualified – will wield more influence in the corridors of power. Sizwe Pamla‚ spokesperson for labour federation Cosatu‚ told TMG Digital on Friday that workers should prepare themselves for a “battle under the DA”. The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) echoed his sentiments but added that the union was less concerned about “highly paid” senior managers who come under scrutiny.DA mayoral candidates Solly Msimanga‚ for Tshwane‚ and Herman Mashaba for Johannesburg told TMG Digital earlier on Friday that they would conduct skills audits and employ people who can do their jobs.How did your ward/city vote? Click here for the #ElectionResults:http://bit.ly/2apwZKU"We think there are gains that workers made which will be eroded in municipalities that will be governed by the DA. We are worried because of experiences in the Western Cape‚” said Pamla."It was not perfect under the ANC but we managed to influence the ANC. If you check the ANC manifesto we were able to influence the ANC to stop privatisation.“The DA ideology is all about privatisation and workers will suffer. Workers should prepare themselves for the battle ahead under the DA‚" he said.The DA mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay‚ Athol Trollip‚ in a controversial eleventh-hour spurt of electioneering ahead of the polls‚ sent municipal staff an email saying they should not fear a DA takeover.Everyone would be treated fairly‚ said the email.“The only people in the metro staff administration who will be subjected to direct scrutiny with potential negative consequences will be those implicated in corruption and found guilty impropriety in this regard and those that have been appointed irregularly‚" said Trollip.Should the Economic Freedom Fighters and the DA be in a position to co-govern Tshwane‚ the City of Johannesburg or Ekurhuleni‚ then ANC-deployed cadres are likely to be concerned about their future.Samwu spokesman Papikie Mohale said: "We are not interested in the fate of senior managers; they are on their own. We have‚ on numerous occasions‚ raised our objection about the abnormally high salaries they are earning and their tendency of oppressing ordinary workers."Samwu’s main concern was workers: "We will rise and defend workers who could be victimised by a political party because of a different ideology‚" Mohale said.He added that the union would co-operate with any political party‚ provided it did not purge union members on the basis of their political ideology...