Samwu: 15% raise or garbage mounts

The South African Municipal Workers Union has submitted its demands to the bargaining council for the start of wage negotiations.

The current wage agreement lapses at the end of June and this has opened the way for new demands to be made to the SA Local Government Bargaining Council.

Samwu is demanding an across-the-board increase of 15% or R4000 for all employees, a local government sector minimum wage of R9625, a single year salary and a collective wage agreement, wherein all benefits, allowances and conditions of service increase by the same rate as the new wages.

Municipal workers also want a housing allowance of R1800 for all employees.

Said union spokesman Papikie Mohale: "Samwu is convinced that our members' demands are legitimate and justifiable.

"We are convinced that this is the minimum salary and wages that our members are entitled to.

"As we go into negotiations of these demands in the respective bargaining councils, we shall proceed with the concrete mandate from our members."

Should employers and the unions fail to reach a settlement, services such as refuse collection, reconnection of electricity, and all municipal services will come to a standstill.

Samwu also tabled demands to Water Solutions SA, which provides water to municipalities,industrial and mining customers in Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal. The trade union wants an across-the-board increase of R3500 for employees.