LOUIS TRICHARDT – The provision of basic services resumed this week, following a settlement over wage increases between striking SAMWU members and their employment structure, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The settlement brought to an end the three-week- long nationwide strike by SAMWU.

Locally the strike was marred by scenes of rubbish-strewn streets and public violence which resulted in the death of one striking SAMWU member in a shooting incident in front of Council's offices on 15 July. Another two SAMWU members were wounded in the incident. Tempers flared as residents struggled to come to grips with SAMWU members' blatant disregard for law and order, while Council had to rely on volunteers to assist in providing basic services. It even saw senior municipal officials, including the Municipal Manager, Mr Reuben Rambado, picking up brooms and helping with cleaning-up operations.

SAMWU's (South African Municipal Workers Union) strike followed failed wage negotiations between the parties to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC), namely SALGA, IMATU and SAMWU. Both IMATU and SALGA obtained a mandate from their members to accept a 3-year wage agreement of an 8% across-the-board wage increase for the 2002/3 financial year, followed by a Consumer Price Index (CPIX) plus 1% increase for the 2003/4 financial year and a CPIX plus 1,5% increase for the 2004/5 financial year.

SAMWU, however, rejected this offer, demanding more money and indicated that they would embark on industrial action from 2 July. It was only last week that union officials received a mandate from their members to settle for a 9% wage increase for workers earning less than R3 200 per month and an 8% increase for the rest. Most of SAMWU's members earn less than R3 200 per month. The 9% increase, instead of the 10% initially asked for, means a R200 per month increase from R1 900 to R2 100.

As for local SAMWU members' unruly behaviour during the strike, Mr Rambado on Wednesday said that his office is at present compiling a report, which will be tabled before Council. After reviewing the report Council will then issue a directive as to what actions should be taken against workers. Council also decided last week to appoint a special commission to investigate the shooting incident and the events leading up to it.