By Lucky Sindane
MUNICIPAL workers are to go on an indefinite strike from Monday, 8 August, following a deadlock over wage negotiations.
The strike will be the third in two months after wage negotiations involving the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) on the one hand and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) on the other, failed.
The unions want a 9 percent wage increase while Salga has implemented a wage increase of 6 percent.
In a statement issued on Friday, Salga said it was still open to negotiations.
"Salga welcomes the opportunity to engage unions in discussing various issues pertaining to the envisaged strike and related matters such as the implementation of the last and final offer," said Salga's spokesperson, Mbangwa Xaba.
"The talks will also focus on critical issues such as service delivery imperatives, the financial position of local government against the backdrop of labour's demands, the conduct of the Samwu members during the strike action during the month of July 2005, which included damage to property, assault and intimidation."
JJ van Rensburg, the Imatu spokesperson, said, "A letter has been drafted to the employer locally, putting them on terms regarding providing protection from intimidation and injury to Imatu members as this is their responsibility in the first instance, especially in light of the Joburg City Labour Bulletin of 26 July denying Imatu members the right to take leave during these trying times."
Xaba said that even at this late stage Salga was optimistic that the coming talks would result in an amicable solution.
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