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BL Premium reports that the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) has dismissed an application by the cash-strapped Tshwane metro to be exempted from implementing the last leg of a multi-term wage deal reached in the council in 2021.
City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the ruling was disappointing as the metro had presented “solid arguments” supported by evidence that the increases were unaffordable. He went on to indicate: “This ruling clearly provides grounds for review. The city will immediately begin the requisite work to approach the Labour Court on an urgent basis to review this ruling.” In a 12-page arbitration award, dated 10 September, SALGBC senior commissioner Eleanor Hambidge noted that the Tshwane metro had submitted that there was no budgeting funding for the increase. However, she found that adequate provision had indeed been made for the increase in the 2023/24 budget. Hambidge added: “I am further persuaded to decline this exemption application, as granting such has the potential to undermine centralised collective bargaining in this sector.” Tshwane employees who are members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have been on strike since 26 July, demanding that the metro implement a 5.4% wage increase, being the last leg of the 2021 wage agreement. Samwu’s Dumisane Magagula welcomed the decision to dismiss Tshwane’s “frivolous exemption application” and implored the metro management to “do the right thing and comply with the collective agreement and the SALGBC ruling”.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Tshwane budget sinks exemption application, at Moneyweb
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page