The Mercury reports that the wage demands of municipal workers have received another boost, with the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) also rejecting revised offers by the SA Local Government Association (Salga).
Imatu has joined the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in slamming Salga’s new 3% - revised from the initial 2.8% - salary hike proposal, for being below inflation. Although Salga has not publicly confirmed its new offer, Imatu said the organisation, which represents the country’s municipalities, “indicated they may revise their opening offer from 2.8% to 3%, if the trade unions consider their proposal on a total freeze of increases to benefits and conditions of service”. Imatu’s Johan Koen went on to indicate: “Salga, however, stated that this should not be seen as a formal proposal, but rather an attempt to explore options for settlement. Salga further highlighted their mandated preference for a multi-year freeze on increases to benefits for year two and year three, if the trade unions will consider entering into a multi-year agreement.” Koen pointed out that Imatu could not consider Salga’s proposal on a multi-year agreement as the latter had not made any proposals on what increases should be implemented in year two and year three of such an agreement. He also reported that the two unions had consolidated their demands into a single joint trade union demand. The joint demands include a 7% across-the-board increase or R2,500 (whichever is the greater) a 7% minimum wage or R2,500 (whichever is the greater) and a R2,000 housing allowance. Imatu said the unions wanted a single year wage agreement, with the scope covering workers under the Expanded Public Works Programme. Deliberations are expected to resume at the beginning of next month.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Vernon Mchunu at The Mercury
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