10111 workers still on strike

ON YOUR marks, get set, we are ready for Level 7.

This was the chant of the more than 100 employees of the 10111 emergency call centre as they marched to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum outlining their demands.

The march was part of the ongoing fight to have their salary upgraded to Level 7 from Level 5, which will mean a stipend of more than R4 000 a month.

The workers said they wanted to be on the same level as other call centre workers such as those at the Department of Home Affairs, SA Social Security Agency, SA Revenue Service and the Presidential Hotline, among others.

The march was led by deputy president of the SA Police Union Tumelo Mogodiseng and general secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions Zwelinzima Vavi.

The workers have been on strike since July 18.

Vavi said he did not understand why workers had to keep on striking to be heard. He said the workers deserved an increase as they were working hard. He said the workers’ demand was simple and did not require them going on a strike. “It is a very simple demand and it did not require us to go on the strike in the first place and yet we are now almost three months on a strike,” he said.

He lambasted Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for ignoring their demands.

The memo was accepted by Calvin Humblef from the Presidency, who assured them they would respond within seven days.