The Sol Plaatje municipal offices remained open on Tuesday, although many staff members were seated outside the premises, demanding that a local labour forum meeting be convened.
THE SOL Plaatje municipal offices remained open on Tuesday, although many staff members were seated outside the premises since 8am, demanding that a local labour forum (LLF) meeting be convened.
South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) local secretary Nomathamsanqa Banda stated that the last LLF meeting was held four months ago.
“These meetings are supposed to take place at least once a month.”
She added that the union was also calling for all suspended workers to be reinstated at Sol Plaatje Municipality following the reinstatement of the acting executive director for infrastructure and services, Phetole Sithole, last week.
“If our grievances are not addressed, the tools down will continue indefinitely. No service delivery took place today,” said Banda.
Samwu local chairperson Daily Semau added that they wanted contract workers to be absorbed into permanent positions as from July.
“Back-dated Covid-19 allowances of R552 per month must be paid to all workers.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said that Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) members were still at their posts.
“An LLF meeting is scheduled to take place at 4pm on Tuesday,” said Riet.
She advised that municipal services including refuse removal might be delayed.
