After a mediator’s intervention in the municipal workers’ pay dispute, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) is awaiting labour’s responses.
”We have received a response from Samwu [the South African Municipal Workers’ Union]. We are still waiting for a response from Imatu [the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union] and will then decide what to do,” said Salga labour director Rio Nolutshungu.
The unions have until Thursday to accept or reject the new offer. Samwu has already rejected the offer, but said it is willing to negotiate further.
The new deal, proposed by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council, offers a further 1,5% increase on the 6% increase already implemented. The 1,5% will only come into effect from February next year and is for workers earning below R4 792 per month.
Samwu and Imatu want an 8% increase or R350, whichever is the highest.
Imatu president Clive Dunstan said he will only respond to the offer on Thursday as the union has given its regions until Wednesday to decide what to do.
Meanwhile, Samwu members began returning to work on Monday after the union suspended its strike.
Samwu deputy general secretary Andile Sihlahla said the union would inform its members throughout the day that the strike has been suspended. All employees are expected to be back at work by Tuesday.
Samwu announced on Sunday that it would suspend the strike.
Sihlahla said one reason for suspending the strike was that Samwu wanted the bargaining-council compromise proposal to be used as a basis for further talks with Salga.
Other reasons included ”increasingly biased police intervention in the strike and the negative impact of existing essential services legislation”.
The new offer includes an adjustment of consumer price inflation plus 1% in the second and third years of a three-year agreement.
The offer includes a minimum wage of R3 000 in year three. — Sapa