Negotiations will continue on Wednesday at the CCMA between the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the City of Johannesburg to bring the Pikitup strike to an end, the union said.
“Samwu is hopeful that negotiations will be concluded today,” said spokesperson Tahir Sema.
“Workers are ready to accept the city’s proposal and were ready last week already. We can only hope the employer commits to ending the strike before the long weekend.”
He said the workers were wary as the city “broke our trust” last week when Pikitup management refused to sign a proposal tabled during negotiations with Samwu.
The city took the union to the Labour Court, which dismissed its application to declare the strike illegal.
Refuse workers at the waste management agency went on strike three weeks ago, demanding, among other things, an internal investigation into allegations of corruption and irregular tenders.
During the strike, Pikitup managing director Zami Nkosi, Pikitup board chairperson Phumla Radebe and several other board members resigned.
Sema said after Monday’s negotiations the union was under the impression that Pikitup managers did not want to sign the proposal because of the investigation into faulty tenders that would follow.
‘It has got out of hand’
“The City of Johannesburg is not acting in a way that we are used to dealing with them. Their behaviour this time is something out of the ordinary,” Sema said.
“This has been going on for far too long … It has got out of hand.”
On Tuesday, city spokesperson Gabu Tugwana said there was a “willingness” by both parties to end the strike.
“I have no doubt that on Wednesday we will be able to go to the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] and tell them the strike is over.”
He said they had agreed on the initial issues brought forward by Samwu, but that the union had presented new issues on Monday.
Tugwana said the city had told Samwu it was unable to meet demands immediately as time and resources were needed.
However, Sema said it was difficult to understand why the city had not put contingency plans in place.
“It’s not part of our [Samwu] strategy to intimidate contract workers or disrupt contingency plans … it was up to the city to put plans in place,” he said.
Tugwana said the city had called on service providers on its database to help with the clean-up of waste in the interim.
Clean up of the inner-city improvement districts had started, he said.
“As a service delivery organisation we can’t stand with our arms folded and ignore the increase of waste … we are continuing with efforts to reduce rubble. We are doing all that we can.”
“We will continue to get all hands on deck.” – Sapa