25 April, 2003

Press Release

JMPD labour dispute ends!

In just two weeks of talks, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) management and union representatives reached an agreement that finally put to an end the industrial dispute at the JMPD, the City of Johannesburg announced today.

The parties (SAMWU, IMATU and JMPD management) signed an agreement this week on the four outstanding grievances as per last week's agreement. Last week, parties agreed that the JMPD will put in place a moratorium on all appointments until Friday May the 2nd , utilise officers who do not have car allowances to drive the chief of police instead of officers with travelling allowances, stop to compel suspended employees to sign a register and open discussions on amounts to be deducted from salaries of employees who have been over paid and pay overtime from the 1st of May for special events.

Then, parties had agreed that other matters; parity in pay, retirement of employees at age 55, and the suspension of senior JMPD officials will be addressed this week.

In terms of the latest round of agreements, the retirement of employees at age 55 was scraped and it was said retirement should be voluntary in line with the rules of pension fund. On pay parity an agreement was reached that this should be implement from the 1st of May, whilst the issue of non-permanent staff was referred to various departments. With regards to appointments an agreement was reached to the effect that all vacancies at the JMPD will be advertised in line with the City Staffing Policy. This outcome of talks set aside the demand for the suspension of senior JMPD management including the Chief of Police Chris Nqcobo.

City manager Pascal Moloi said: "I congratulate all parties involved for successfully dealing with their differences. The issues dealt with challenged our managers and unions to rise above petty politicking and deal objectively with issues that, if not well handled, may undermine our endeavor to build this city."

Moloi further said the JMPD has been singled out by most residents of the city as a symbol that depicts through its high visibility, that the city is turning around: "The beautiful, BMWs and 4X4s that traverse our well maintained roads and highways up and down without fail had come to be appreciated by all who live and visit the City," he said.

Ends

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Mbangwa Xaba
Media Liaison
Tel: 407 7226
Fax: 403 3494
082 467 9230
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