Draft deal could end metro strike
Agreement in principle reached, but workers still to have final say
Nelson Mandela Bay municipal bosses and union representatives have struck an in-principle deal that could finally see the end of the city strike – but it still needs the buy-in of workers.
This deal will be presented today to workers, who will ultimately decide if it is approved or rejected.
Representatives of the municipality’s management and unions spent yesterday around the negotiating table, trying to reach an agreement.
However, by the afternoon neither the unions nor the city would say what the deal entailed, saying only that they had reached a draft agreement.
The week-long strike has paralysed services, with pockets of protests flaring up on Wednesday because of power outages.
On Wednesday, the municipality put an offer on the table for the long-service bonus back- pay.
The offer was that employees with between 12 and 17 years’ service would be paid a once-off R8 000 in back-pay, those with between 18 and 23 years of service would be given R12 000, and those with 24 years and more of service would receive R16 000.
The strike saw the Bay’s streets littered with rubbish as waste was not collected in large parts of the city all week.
Days before the draft settlement agreement being drawn up yesterday, striking workers burned rubbish bins and unhinged bus shelters along Govan Mbeki Avenue.
Yesterday, municipal manager Johann Mettler said the city was very close to clinching a deal and ending the strike.
“There are small matters that we are just finding a final agreement on with the facilitator,” Mettler said.
“There were many internal process matters that they put on the table besides the longservice bonus issue.
“I think we have found each other on the long-service bonus issue, but it’s just a final agreement on how to deal with those other internal matters.”
Samwu regional secretary Mqondisi Nodongwe said they would meet workers today to present the draft agreement to them.
A general meeting would be held at the Feather Market Centre at 10am to reach a decision.
“Ours is a mandate given to us by workers, so we can’t decide by ourselves – we have to discuss with the workers the offer that is on the table,” Nodongwe said.
He said that during the discussions yesterday, everyone had been in a negotiating mood and “there was no arrogance from the employer”.
Imatu regional manager Churchill Mothapo confirmed there was a “principle agreement” in place but the union would communicate this to the workers first.
“There are minor things that needed to be sorted out and so we’ll meet with our members today,” he said.
Acting corporate services executive director Nosipho Xhego said the facilitator had completed his work and that consultations would continue today.
“We are meeting again at 12pm today to analyse everything and the results of this meeting will be communicated [to] everyone.
“We’ve agreed on a number of issues but because there were matters other than the long-service bonus, they want to report back to their constituencies to see if they are happy with how everything has been resolved,” Xhego said.