Wage talks between Samwu and City of Tshwane break down

THE Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)-facilitated talks between the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the City of Tshwane on June 10 and 23, broke down without an agreement over the outstanding 3.5% wage increase for the 2021/22 period.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

The talks followed a May 9 Labour Court ruling, which sent the matter back to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council for a new hearing on the 3.5% wage increase after the city initially sought an exemption.

In the same breath, the court ruled that the city is exempt from implementing a 5.4% wage increase for the 2023/2024 financial year after it cited financial constraints.

The city approached the court after its application for exemption from a wage agreement with the unions was rejected by the bargaining council.

Samwu regional secretary Donald Monakisi said the union has formally appealed against the ruling on the 5.4% salary increase and is waiting for the Labour Appeal Court to schedule a hearing date.

OFFENSIVE