The SA Local Government Bargaining Council will attempt to resolve pay talks between municipalities and workers this month after all parties involved in negotiations declared a dispute.
The SA Municipal Workers’ Union of SA (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu), rejected an independent facilitator’s proposal in June for a three-year pay deal that called for a 4% increase in the first year, and increases based on the consumer price index (CPI) minus 1% for the second and third years.
Samwu represents about 160,000 of the 290,000 workers in the municipal sector.
In May Samwu, which initially demanded a one-year agreement for a R4,000 pay rise across the board, revised its demand to the greater of R2,500, or 7%. Imatu is demanding 9%, or R2,500. Both unions rejected the 2.8% increase offered by the SA Local Government Association (Salga).
Inflation as measured by the CPI stood at 5.2% in May, and the Reserve Bank sees price increases averaging 4.2% in 2021, 4.4% in 2022 and 4.5% in 2023.
Samwu general secretary Dumisane Magagula said this week the union has reverted to its original demand for a R4,000 increase. It is threatening to strike
if the conciliation process fails, saying 80% of its members had been balloted and the majority were in favour of the action.
Salga, which represents the country’s 257 municipalities, said this week it had filed its dispute papers at the bargaining council.
In a letter to Salga, Imatu and Samwu, which Business Day has seen, the bargaining council secretariat said it will “consolidate the three disputes”, with the conciliation process scheduled for July 19-20.
Samwu spokesperson Papikie Mohale said on Thursday the union would request a strike certificate if the conciliation process failed.
mkentanel@businesslive.co.za
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