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SAMWU’s outrageous Buffalo City demands

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance has noted the ANC-aligned SAMWU’s demand, now supported by IMATU, that Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) pay a R100 000 “apology” to each worker for the delayed implementation of job evaluations.

While there was some sympathy for the unions’ earlier legitimate demands, this action smacks of pure opportunism. The actions of SAMWU and its members have crippled the City, and severely impacted on the lives and livelihoods of its residents. This is economic terrorism and thuggery of the worst kind.

The DA respects the legitimate role of trade unions, but we are alarmed that SAMWU are allowing themselves to be used as a platform for opportunism and criminality. We have noted that many of the demands from the unions relate to issues that the failing ANC-led administration has simply plastered over.

As an immediate stop-gap measure, the DA would:

  • Suspend and discipline all workers involved in the illegal strike (including criminally charging and dismissing any found to have damaged municipal property);
  • Appoint private contractors to repair the destroyed and damaged infrastructure and get basic services restored to residents (many of whom have been without water and electricity for over a week); and
  • Hire service providers to collect the mountains of refuse piling up across the city.

The ANC-aligned SAMWU must be held accountable for criminality during the BCM protest.

Equally, the City Manager must be held accountable for his failure to implement agreements reached with the unions. This requires an immediate investigation and report to council. If the City Manager is not doing his job, then it is time to find one who will.

A DA-led administration would respect workers’ rights, including the right to strike, provided this is done legally and in a peaceful manner, and adhere to agreements and resolutions made with employee unions.

Under a DA government, the ability of this rogue union to call the shots would be much diminished. The DA is committed to building One South Africa for All, where basic services are sped up and municipal officials do the jobs they are employed to do.

Regards

Kevin Mileham

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Port Elizabethan

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