SAMWU
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg has granted the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) a R10,3 billion wage deal.
The union says the adjusted budget will help address pay disparities and improve service delivery in the metro.
SAMWU’s Lebohang Ndawo said they welcome the deal.
"You see, this politically facilitated agreement is supposed to correct, amongst other things, exactly that. It's supposed to ensure that workers are remunerated equally and fairly, because currently in the city of Johannesburg, the salary scale is discrimination in terms of race.
“White counterparts are earning at middle and top notch, whereas black employees are earning at entry level. So that is a pathway PFA is supposed to correct. Two, workers of the city of Johannesburg, which was long categorized as category 10, are getting paid at category 8, whereas councillors and the city manager in these direct reports are remunerated at category 10. Those are things that this PFA is intending to correct, and by that we then believe that the service delivery that the residents would get would be the best that they could get."
In a statement, the Union said the victory was not handed to workers; it was won through sustained organisation, resilience and sheer determination by their members.
“We note that this progressive step was supported by parties including the ANC and the EFF. While other parties, including the DA and ActionSA, did not support the adjustment budget, it is important to emphasise that an adjustment budget is not limited to the PFA alone, but also addresses broader service delivery priorities, budget realignments and the operational needs of the municipality.
“Opposition to the adjustment budget, therefore, has implications that go beyond labour matters and touches on the municipality’s ability to respond to service delivery challenges facing communities.