25 June, 2003 Press Release COUNCIL SERVICES WILL NOT BE DISRUPTED The City of Johannesburg today assured residents that service delivery would not be hampered by the strike threatened by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) next week. The unions have threatened to go on strike over the proposed salary increase for municipal employees. During the negotiations, which resulted in a three-year agreement signed in July 2002. The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the two municipal unions agreed to base salary increase on the CPIX figure plus one percent. It was later revealed that the initial inflation figure was incorrectly calculated. Municipalities were advised to adjust salary increases accordingly i.e. from 11% to 10.5%. Council is making every effort to ensure that there will be minimum interruption to public services. With regard to essential services, they remain unaffected by the strike in terms of the Labour Relations Act. According to Salga, there is no formal dispute declared yet. ENDS Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za