Ethekwini municipal workers battle to survive
ETHEKWINI Municipality workers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the City’s move to reduce the amount of overtime hours they work.
They claim the overtime pay cuts have now affected their ability to provide for their families.
Durban Solid Waste (DSW) staff members downed tools last month after their overtime pay was cut due to the reduced, limited hours they could work.
Last week, the electricity department staff raised their concerns with management over the same issue.
The municipality imposed a 50% overtime cut for all departments that became effective on August 1.
DSW staff said they were limited to 32 hours of overtime per month.
Electricity department workers will only be required to work overtime upon demand for service.
A DSW worker, who spoke to the Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity said she felt the pinch since overtime hours were cut.
“The cost of living is so high, a lot of people have bonds and cars to pay for and we have adjusted to a certain salary, which includes overtime.
“We work very hard, so this is unfair if you look at the job that we do, sometimes working seven days a week – in all types of weather conditions and carrying heavy items.
“We work in clinics, hospitals, malls, garages, temples, churches – anywhere – in the heat and when it rains.
“Even when there is a shortage of staff or a truck breaks down, we work. We need the overtime,” she said.
An electricity department employee, who asked not to be named, said having no overtime pay affected his monthly budget.
“We sometimes worked around 120 hours overtime and now to move to reduced hours, it is hard and sudden.“
The worker said many people had been living off their overtime because it was tough to survive on a basic salary alone.
“Previously, overtime was planned well in advance but now there is no budget. Some workers use public transport and the fees are high. I am finding it challenging,” he said.
The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) has been engaging with the departments about the workers’ concerns.
Xolani Dube, Samwu’s regional secretary in ethekwini, said each matter had been resolved accordingly.
“We have made the overtime arrangements, but these are developing discussions. We agreed to 32 overtime hours for DSW staff, and we received a circular from the electricity department’s management stating that hours will not be limited but only acquired when necessary.
“The matter is about to be concluded, hopefully by the end of this week. We were worried because essential services cannot be cut,” said Dube.