The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) said on Friday it would soon set up a meeting between striking municipal workers and their employer.
”The CCMA has been in touch with both parties in dispute… and is (to) convene a meeting soon to negotiate and lay out strike rules and conduct,” CCMA representative Sithembele Tshwete said in a statement.
”The CCMA has been monitoring the strike and is busy seeking a full intervention from the parties to be able to facilitate a settlement to resolve the current industrial action.”
Thousands of members from the SA Municipal Workers’ Union embarked on a national strike on Tuesday following a dispute with the SA Loc al Government Association (Salga) over wage increases.
Salga has offered an eight percent increase while the union is demanding 10 percent or R300, whichever is the greatest.
On Thursday Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana directed the CCMA to intervene in the wage strike after saying he was dismayed at how the parties were conducting themselves in the dispute.
The strikers are set to hold marches in several towns in the North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance condemned violence used by striking municipal workers in the Ekurhuleni municipality on the East Rand on Thursday.
DA Ekurhuleni Chief Whip Malcolm Lennox said on Friday the actions of the striking workers were unacceptable and called on the executive mayor to take decisive steps against them in order to protect members of the public.
”Residents of Ekurhuleni need to be assured that their safety will be protected when faced with lawless criminals who have no respect for other people rights,” Lennox said.
The DA Ekurhuleni Chief Whip criticised the attack on a bakkie driver in Edenvale and the blocking off of roads in Germiston.
”Such criminal acts should be punished to the full extent of the law.
”In any civilised society people’s rights should be respected and at the same time those taking part in strikes should refrain from using violence to achieve their goals.”
Lennox said the strikers destroyed an entry boom to Council offices in Germiston. He said other centres such as Kempton Park, Springs, Benoni and Boksburg were also trashed.
”The tactics used by the strikers included chasing cars down roads and tipping over dustbins in order to obstruct traffic.” – Sapa