The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is outraged by the sluggish pace and disrespectful nature of the current salary and wage negotiations for the country’s 257 municipal workers under the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). From July 23-26, parties in the SALGBC engaged in the second round of negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), representing the country’s municipalities.
SAMWU entered these negotiations with a firm resolve to secure an agreement that addresses the urgent needs of its members, who continue to provide essential services under increasingly oppressive conditions.
SALGA’s offer not only falls short of our just demands but also blatantly disregards the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of municipal workers.
These negotiations are critically delayed, as SALGA had earlier indicated that it would not be available for negotiations due to the country’s general elections.
From the beginning, SALGA has been determined to deny municipal workers their rightful salary increases, which were due on July 1st.
Unless there is drastic movement from parties, workers will only receive their salary increase after the month of August. This unnecessary delay will cause more financial strains on the country’s municipal workers.
SALGA has audaciously proposed a 5-year salary and wage collective agreement, a first in the history of the country’s local government sector. While SAMWU is not opposed to a multi-year agreement, such an agreement must come with significant incentives. The paltry offer from SALGA, increasing from a mere 3.3%
to an equally insulting 3.75%, accompanied by a one-time ex gratia payment of R3,000 for workers earning below R22,000, is laughable and shows a complete lack of respect for the financial struggles municipal workers face. Despite repeated movements by labour to the current 8% demand, SALGA has not reciprocated this movement.
The proposed 3.75% increase is a mockery, especially considering the rising cost of living and inflation rates. The one-time payment of R3,000 does nothing to address the need for sustained, meaningful wage growth. SALGA’s claim of offering an inflation-linked increase is deceitful, as the current offer is far below the 5.1% inflation rate.
As a union, we assert that inflation is not the correct measure of the escalating cost of living that municipal workers are battling. Moreover, most municipalities have budgeted for increases of 5% and above, yet SALGA’s offer falls disgracefully short.
Initially, SALGA sought to exclude 157 municipalities from the collective agreement; this number was later revised to 66 municipalities. SALGA’s proposal to automatically exclude 66 financially distressed municipalities from paying salary increases is unprecedented and unacceptable.
This undermines the hard work of municipal workers and shifts the blame for financial mismanagement, fraud, and corruption away from municipalities. SAMWU firmly rejects the automatic exclusion of any municipality. As a union, we have a duty to negotiate for all our members, across all municipalities. SALGA’s stance on this matter is an affront to the dedication and hard work of municipal workers.
The proposed increase in the sectoral minimum wage to R9890 is grossly inadequate. SAMWU demands a substantial increase to ensure a living wage for all municipal workers. We are steadfast in our commitment to achieving a living wage for all municipal workers in South Africa.
The union’s demand for serviced stands, which would enable workers to build their own homes and generate additional municipal revenue, has been arrogantly dismissed by SALGA This refusal is unacceptable, SAMWU
Will continue to push for the inclusion of serviced stands in these negotiations.
SALGA’s proposal to revamp the exemption process to make it easier for municipalities to avoid paying salary increases is nothing short of a betrayal to municipal workers. The clause that exempts any municipality that collects less than 95% of its revenue is a deliberate attempt to undermine wage agreements, as no municipality in the country meets this threshold. SAMWU will never support any employer’s effort to deny workers their rightful salary increases.
At the Special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on 30 July 2021, SAMWU unanimously decided to reject the offer presented by SALGA. The CEC firmly believes that the current offer does not significantly improve the lives of municipal workers. Moreover, the CEC strongly opposes the exclusion of any municipality from the collective agreement.
As the third round of negotiations approaches, scheduled for 12-16 August 2024, SAMWU calls on SALGA to return with a revised offer that truly benefits municipal workers who are essential to service delivery.
SAMWU extends its gratitude to its members across the country’s 257 municipalities for their trust in the Union to lead these negotiations. Regular updates will be provided on developments within the SALGBC.
The Union remains committed in its principles, refusing to compromise workers’ interests for an employer’s agenda that aims to deny them salary and wage increases. These negotiations are cantered on municipal workers, who must prepare to defend collective bargaining and the pursuit of a living wage.