Daily News reports that staff employed by Durban Solid Waste (DSW) overturned bins and strew litter on the streets of Durban as they made their way to the city hall on Tuesday morning.  

They were protesting about salary increases given to MK vets at the Water and Waste Department.  Staff driving various waste removal trucks made their way from depots around the municipality and in the Durban city centre tipped over trucks filled with waste onto the streets of the CBD.  According to DSW workers, their protest was in solidarity with their colleagues at the Water and Waste Department, who downed tools last week after it emerged that MK vets employed by the city had had their pay increased from R9,000 to R20,000.  The workers’ demand is for pay equal to that of the MK vets and they have vowed to bring the city to its knees if their demand is not met.  "The so-called MK vets that were employed have not touched a tool yet but they (are) getting a high salary.  We are now fed up.  This is quite an extensive problem also affecting the Durban Metro police, the roads department, water and sanitation and electricity departments," a worker commented.

• Read the full original of Zainul Dawood’s report on the protest at Daily News
• Read too, Striking workers turn city centre into 'dirtbin Durban', at TimesLIVE
• And also, eThekwini municipality to haul striking water workers to court, at TimesLIVE

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page