Sapu’s 10111 strike continues

MEMBERS of the SA Police Union (Sapu) have vowed to intensify their strike at the SA Police Service 10111 emergency call centres as the wage strike entered its second day yesterday.

Union members Bethuel Nkuna and Motshidi Talakgale said besides being lowly paid, their working conditions at the Midrand call centre were “unbearable”.

They said they also needed counselling as they were faced with having to endure distress calls from desperate callers who sought help from police.

“Month end is the worst because with cash circulating, we receive traumatic calls that we have to connect with the police… and while we’re trying to assist, you hear gunshots in the background and the line goes dead… and you have to move on to the next caller,” said Nkuna.

Union secretary general Oscar Skommere said the problems at the call centre dated back to 2013, when workers met with police management to address call centre salary levels, which were not the same as those at government call centres.

He said the then national commissioner Riah Phiyega instructed police management then to benchmark 10111 call centre salaries alongside those of call centres at home affairs, Sassa, Sars, the presidential hotline and others.

“The task team recommended that the salary level at 10111 be upgraded to salary level 7 (R226 000 per annum). The job evaluation was completed around October 2016 with recommended salary level 7,” said Skommere. – ANA