Thursday, August 18, 2011

Another union joins municipal workers’ strike

By Khanyisa Tabata
18 August 2011

The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union will tomorrow join an ongoing strike by the SA Municipal Workers’ Union.

Imatu’s Simon Riekert says they are late in joining the industrial action, as they had to wait for members to vote on a wage offer of six-point-eight-percent.

He says they have rejected the offer and remain firm on their demand for an 18-percent increase. Riekert says Imatu members have been cautioned not to resort to violence and intimidation.

Meanwhile, Samwu has condemned the use of police against strikers in Cape Town. Western Cape provincial secretary, Andre Adams, says the use of state machinery to undermine workers’ rights is deplorable.

A number of strikers have been arrested since Monday, for allegedly participating in unlawful protest action.

The labour court granted an interdict against striking municipal workers, preventing them from intimidating non-striking employees or carrying weapons.

The City of Cape Town brought the interdict yesterday after employees affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers' Union embarked on violent protests on Monday.

The court order requires Samwu to take steps to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

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