Tshwane: Municipal workers continue to strike due to 0% wage increase

A march led by municipal workers in the City of Tshwane has halted the delivery of basic services and left many residents frustrated.

The municipal workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union(Samwu) are striking today(Wednesday) to show their dissatisfaction over the 0% wage and salary increase for 2023/24 passed by the council in June.

The ongoing municipal workers’ strike in the City of Tshwane has halted the service delivery services including the bus service. The municipal workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union(Samwu) are striking today(Wednesday) to show their dissatisfaction over the 0% wage and salary increase for 2023/24 passed by the council in June.

The City said in a statement, the deliberate acts of interrupting services have an impact on the delivery of basic services including customer care walk-in centres and the Tshwane Bus Service.

“In light of the illegal strike action, commuters are urged to seek alternative transport arrangements until further notice. The demonstration underway has gained momentum with intimidation behaviour directed at non-striking staff.

SAMWU members march to Tshwane House. #SamwuMarch https://t.co/izevIUHVaz

— SAMWU | SA Municipal Workers’ Union (@SAMWUnion) July 26, 2023

CITY SUSPENDS 40 BUSES DUE TO ILLEGAL STRIKE

As a precautionary safety measure, the city has since withdrawn 40 busses that were operating this morning due to intimidation tactics which involved a bus being pelted with stones by striking workers.

“The city’s law-enforcement branch, Tshwane Metro Police, Department, has been deployed to monitor the flashpoints where demonstrations are taking place and to protect employees who are not taking part in the strike.

“Residents are informed that day-to-day municipal services such as power failures, collection of waste pipe leakages, and sewer blockages will be impacted in some areas due to the strike. The city apologises profusely to members of the community who are frustrated and inconvenienced by the disturbances.”

[WATCH] Tshwane mayor addresses wildcat strike action and service delivery interruptions. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/DzbZ77Jzr8

— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) July 25, 2023

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Tshwane has since announced that it will be applying a no-work, no-pay principle to those workers participating in the strike.

On Wednesday, workers marched from the Old Putco bus depot to Tshwane House, where the Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Cilliers Brink is expected to address them.

On Tuesday morning, in a video address, Cilliers said, the ‘wild cat strikes’ that had broken out across the city had affected the municipality’s ability to render service delivery to the residents. Cilliers said the ‘illegal strike action’ has also affected the metro’s ability to respond to power outages.

On Monday, services were brought to a complete standstill at Centurion municipal offices after a group of municipal workers staged a protest.

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This article was originally published by Andile Sithole.