Metro bid to break deadlock
The metro has finally tabled an offer to the two municipal unions in an effort to break the back of the crippling strike in Nelson Mandela Bay.
However, a report to the municipality’s mayoral committee – which was subsequently withdrawn – details how this is likely to add further strain to the massive deficit the Bay is facing just days before the financial year end.
It already projects a budget deficit of R239-million for the financial year ending on June 30 – which excludes the money the metro would have to fork out for the long-service backpay demand from the striking workers.
This is compounded by the fact that 460 private security guards were insourced by the municipality halfway through the financial year, as well as the city’s poor revenue collection rate of 92% – which falls short of its 94% target.
The offer on the table is for employees with between 12 and 17 years’ service to be paid a once-off R8 000 in backpay, those with between 18 and 23 years’ service to be given R12 000 and those with 24 years’ service and more to receive R16 000.
Imatu regional manager Churchill Mothapo and Samwu regional manager Mqondisi Nodongwe confirmed they had received the offer and would consult their members before heading back to the bargaining table with their employer at 9am today.
The unions have been demanding that 2 689 municipal workers each be paid a R30 000 settlement for outstanding long-service bonuses.
The municipality is, meanwhile, seeking an urgent court interdict to compel workers to stick to the picketing rules – which were agreed to by all union representatives – and to ensure that essential services are not disrupted.
The week-long municipal strike has paralysed services, with pockets of protests flaring up yesterday because of power outages.
The dispute over backpay for long-service bonuses was the bone of contention in the council yesterday, and ultimately caused the meeting to collapse.
Opposition parties had demanded that the strike, which entered its seventh day yesterday, be debated, and this was supported by mayor Athol Trollip and the rest of the DAled coalition.
However, speaker Jonathan Lawack ruled that the matter be debated after the council agenda was concluded, angering the ANC, EFF, UDM, AIC and United Front councillors, who stormed out of the Woolboard Exchange building.
They walked over to the City Hall, where ANC councillor Andile Lungisa said they would petition for a special council meeting to push for the strikers’ demands.
“We will force the employer to come to our terms,” he said to the cheers of the workers.
UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani said he had left the meeting because the strike had not been discussed first.
“Our townships are burning. Services have actually collapsed. It is like we are in the midst of a flood,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the mayor and some of the DA councillors live in affluent areas and are not bothered with the plight of the poor.”
Trollip said the municipality could not afford the union’s demands.
“The unions are demanding R30 000 across the board per member – that is simply not affordable,” he said.
“We don’t have that kind of money, we can’t pay it.
“It would be irregular and irresponsible.”
He said officials had put an offer on the table that they believed the metro could afford.
“We will continue to deliberate with the two trade unions until we find each other on an amicable resolution that
We will continue to deliberate until we find each other
is affordable to council.
“This council does not have limitless money – you have seen how difficult it is to pass our budget, and how difficult it is to deal with the impact of the drought.
“These are difficult negotiations and we will continue to negotiate with the representative of the workers with or without a council meeting.”
Meanwhile, protests flared in Motherwell and New Brighton over power outages that have occurred since Friday.
Four municipal vehicles were damaged at a municipal depot in Motherwell.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said about 100 residents had barricaded the R335, or the Addo Road, as it is often called.
“The motive is the electricity problems since last Friday.
“At about 9.30am, four municipal vehicles, including a truck, a VW Caddy and two bakkies, were damaged at the municipal depot,” Beetge said.
In New Brighton, residents blocked Sheya Kulati and Ferguson streets.
Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said the electricity outage was related to the industrial action by the municipal workers.
“We are trying our best to provide services to the community,” he said.
“But we have a backlog and a number of services can’t be offered.”
Baron said contingency plans were in place to collect refuse in some areas.
Today, refuse will be collected in Sherwood, Ben Kamma, Kragga Kamma, Weybridge Park, Lorraine, Woodlands, Kamma Park, Kamma Heights, Framesby, Sunridge Park, Framesby Gardens, Framesby Extension, Vergelegen, Fernglen, Cotsworld Extension, Beverley Gardens and Beverley Grove.
Workers relax in a rubbish-strewn city centre, waiting for news on the ongoing municipal strike