Metro Police monitor the strike

City services SOME city services may be affected by the strike. Pikitup Pikitup, the City's waste management agency, has said some of its depots and areas may be affected. It has advised Joburgers that should there be any disruption, they should keep their rubbish on their premises until the next scheduled collection. The agency will, however, assign additional staff to collect rubbish from restaurants and all the City's clinics and hospitals. Pikitup's garden sites will be open, but only for garden waste and not for general domestic refuse, according to a City press release. The five landfill sites will operate with skeleton staff. These are: Goudkoppies on Houthammer Road, Devland Linbro Park on Marlboro Drive, Sandton Marie Louise on Dobsonville Road, Roodepoort Robinson Deep on Turffontein Road, Turffontein Ennerdale on Old Lawley Road, Lawley Metrobus Metrobus is hoping to keep its operations running, but should there be serious disruptions, it has asked passengers to make alternative transport arrangements. According to the bus company, passengers who use tags will not lose trips because of the strike. "Passengers will be informed on how they can redeem these trips in due course," Modingoane said. Joburg Water Joburg Water, the City's water utility, will not be affected because it is an essential service and its employees are not participating in the protest. Pay points Most of the major pay points will be open. Residents can also use alternative outlets, including banks, supermarkets and ATMs to pay their municipal services accounts. Pre-paid customers have been advised to put extra money into their accounts as a precautionary measure. "Although the City will do its utmost to provide services, it apologises for any possible disruptions and thanks residents for understanding," Modingoane added. For all City-related queries, call Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555

RELATED LINKS: Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department Emergency management services Pikitup Metrobus Joburg Water

City acts to cut disruptions THE City is taking a tough stance on strikers, sticking to a "No work, no pay" principle. August 8, 2005 By Anish Abraham "NO WORK, no pay" - the City of Johannesburg has opted for a strong stand as municipal workers take to the streets yet again, after unions and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) failed to agree on wage increases. "This is a position taken by the City's management in an attempt to minimise possible disruptions to service delivery during this labour action," said City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane. The latest protest follows a three-day strike by municipal workers from 27 to 29 July that failed to persuade employer body Salga to improve its offer of a 6 percent wage rise to the 9 percent demanded by the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu). Strikers waiting on the lawns in front of the Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein According to press reports, the union has dropped its demand to R350 or 8 percent, whichever is the greater. At a Salga meeting at its offices in Menlyn, in Pretoria on 26 July, the association decided to implement an across-the-board 6 percent wage increase for municipal workers. According to Modingoane, the City's utilities, agencies and corporatised entities (UACs) were not served proper notice of the latest strike action, in terms of the Labour Relations Act. "If UACs' employees strike, they will be opening themselves to disciplinary action, " he said. As was the case in the past strikes, workers who took part in illegal action, including trashing the city or intimidating other employees, would be apprehended by police and would face legal action. According to Wayne Minnaar, the spokesperson for Metro Police, there would be a strong police presence in the city and they would monitor the strikers closely. "As with before, we will take action if they [municipal strikers] engage in disruptive behaviour." The City would also take harsh disciplinary steps against unruly strikers, including possible dismissal, Modingoane added. By late afternoon on 8 August, the strike was largely without incident. Strikers were picketing peacefully in front of the Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za