Union leaders’ salaries jump by up to 400%
UNION leaders who led some of the most violent protests and strikes by municipal workers in Buffalo City Metro in recent years have been rewarded with huge salary increases.
In one increase, a union leader has seen his salary jump by almost 400%. Two others had their salaries increased by more than 300% while a fourth had his more than doubled.
The four, Zolani Ndlela, Jongani Mbiko, William Sincayi and Oscar Mankosi, are all leaders of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
Ndlela was a general worker, and Mbiko was a supervisor. They now act as “programme managers” for “promotions” which saw their monthly salaries increase by more than R23 000 and R39 000 respectively.
Ndlela’s salary jumped from R8 500 to R31 600 a month and Mbiko’s increase from R8 500 to R47 000.
Mankosi, also a general worker, has been seconded to act as an assistant manager earning an increase of R9 200 a month, more than 150%.
Another Samwu leader William Sincayi, though no longer a shop steward after resigning his position last year, saw his pay increase by R40 000 a month after being seconded to a senior position in the municipality.
The increases happened within a year – between December 2013 and beginning of this year.
The four unionists’ names appear in a printout of about 15 employees that sources within Buffalo City Metro said had been rewarded for their loyalty to the current administration.
A Samwu leader, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, accused the unionists of betraying the workers.
“I refused to be party to that. That is tantamount to betraying workers. Here you have union leaders who earn more than their line managers. That’s very wrong and suicidal,” the source said.
Ndlela refused to speak on the increases.
“I will only comment once Samwu has an official position on the matter. I’m in no position to comment at this stage,” he said.
Sincayi referred all questions to metro spokesman Keith Ngesi while Mankosi could not be reached for comment.
Ndlela, Mbiko and Mankosi were ringleaders of last year’s strikes when workers downed tools for two weeks. Workers demanded a R10 000 across-the-board payment they claimed was due to them as a 14th cheque.
During a march they led in February last year, a burning object was thrown into the old council chambers at the East London city hall.
Curtains and floor covers were burnt and tables and chairs damaged in the room, which is where committee meetings were held.
Police had to use stun grenades, water cannons and fire rubber bullets to disperse the rioting crowd.
The council is now forced to hire venues around the city for its sittings as the city hall, which is still under renovation due to the damages caused, is unavailable.
The cost to the taxpayer will run into millions of rands.
To restore stability in the metro, council agreed to give the striking workers a “bonus”. Only then was the strike called off.
Ngesi, while refusing to deal with individual cases, confirmed that several officials’ salaries, including three unionists, were adjusted after they were seconded to senior positions.
The secondments were at the