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Times Live reports that the first round of wage negotiations between the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) is headed for deadlock after the employers’ offer, on behalf of 278 municipalities, of a 4.4% increase for the first year was rejected.
For the second and third year of the agreement, Salga offered an inflation-linked increase plus an additional 0.25%. The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) has also rejected the offer. The current wage deal lapses in June and a strike could halt all municipal services. The two unions are demanding an across-the-board increase of 15% or R4,000, a minimum wage of R9,625 and a flat rate housing allowance of R1800 for all employees. Samwu said the 4.4% offer was below inflation and ridiculous and it accused Salga of not negotiating in good faith. Imatu's deputy secretary, Craig Adams, said, though it remained committed to constructive and meaningful dialogue with Salga, workers expected a living wage. Salga spokesman Tahir Sema warned that it was too early to predict the outcome of the negotiations and said: "Parties agreed to put the interests of the country, the cities and workers at heart during the negotiating process."
- Read this report by Penwell Dlamini and Kingdom Mabuza in full at Times Live
- See too, Municipal unions reject Salga offer, at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page