Pikitup strike: We won, says Samwu

The SA Municipal Workers' Union is claiming victory over waste management entity Pikitup and the City of Johannesburg following negotiations on salary disparities.

Though Samwu did not disclose figures agreed to, the union's regional secretary, Meisie Sekaledi, said Samwu was satisfied with the amount.

The five-week Pikitup strike left Johannesburg streets piled with rubbish. It ended after the City, Pikitup and Samwu reached an agreement on Saturday night following negotiations facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Pikitup agreed to make a once-off payment of R750 to certain categories of workers and negotiations for better salaries continued at the CCMA after the weekend announcement.

The unprotected strike involving 4000 employees was called by workers demanding salaries of between R8000 and R10000.

In discussions to resolve the industrial action, facilitated by the CCMA, Pikitup and Samwu agreed that the eventual salary increments accepted in negotiations would be backdated to January this year.

Pikitup says it will now implement a double shift system to clear backlogs in refuse removal and illegal dumping caused by the strike.

Residents and business owners have been asked to leave their bins and excess waste outside on normal collection days, "as recovery plans are in place to collect within 48 hours".