BL Premium reports that the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (Salgbc) will this month attempt to resolve pay talks between municipalities and workers after all parties involved in negotiations declared disputes.
In June, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu) rejected an independent facilitator’s proposal for a three-year pay deal that called for a 4% increase in the first year, and increases based on the consumer price index minus 1% for the second and third years. In May, Samwu, which had initially demanded a one-year agreement with a R4,000 pay rise across the board, revised its demand to the greater of R2,500 or 7%. Imatu is demanding 9%, or R2,500. Both unions rejected the 2.8% increase offered by the SA Local Government Association (Salga), which represents the country’s 257 municipalities. Samwu general secretary Dumisane Magagula said this week that the union has reverted to its original demand for a R4,000 increase. It is threatening to strike if the conciliation process fails. Salga confirmed this week that it had filed its dispute papers at the bargaining council. The Salgbc secretariat said it would “consolidate the three disputes”, with the conciliation process scheduled for 19 and 20 July.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
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