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Rand Water withdraws notification of decision not to pay performance bonuses, while Samwu suspends strike action

Details

randwaterBL Premium reports Rand Water on Wednesday withdrew notification of its decision not to pay performance incentive bonuses to its staff pending the outcome of a hearing at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

In return, its employees belonging to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) agreed to suspend their strike action scheduled to commence on Wednesday. In an agreement, which Labour Court judge André van Niekerk made an order of the court, the two parties agreed to meet at the CCMA on 28 April for further engagement. Samwu had intended to embark on what it said was a protected strike after accusing the company of “unilaterally changing the conditions of service of workers, in particular withdrawing incentive bonuses, which workers had been receiving for the last 17 years”. Rand Water communications manager Teboho Joala advised earlier on Wednesday that the company had approached the court on an urgent basis because Samwu leadership had not followed due process in order to embark on the industrial action. According to Joala, the performance bonus is “a discretionary bonus paid at the discretion of the board”. Samwu Gauteng’s Bafana Zungu said the union was optimistic that the CCMA would rule in its favour. On Tuesday, Rand Water CEO Sipho Mosai indicated that most of the utility’s 3,000-strong workforce were essential service workers, with only about 1,000 non-essential service employees. The supply and distribution of water is classified as an essential service and essential service workers are prohibited from striking.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)


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