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IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Wage talks between Samwu and City of Tshwane break down, leaving workers in limbo
The recent CCMA-led talks between Samwu and the City of Tshwane failed to reach an agreement over the outstanding 3,5% wage increase for the 2021/22 period. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Media 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, 2025, broke down without an agreement over the outstanding 3.5% wage increase for the 2021/22 period. 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. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 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. Regarding the outstanding 3.5% salary increase, he said both the union and the city failed to reach an agreement during the recent CCMA-led negotiations regarding the process to finalise such an increase for municipal workers. He said the bargaining council has scheduled the exemption hearing for July 21, 2025. Monakisi explained that the CCMA-facilitated talks were held ahead of the upcoming exemption hearing at the bargaining council, in an effort to narrow down the issues in dispute and explore possible settlement options that could be formalised as a bargaining council award. However, the meetings failed to yield consensus between the two parties, but they agreed on the value of ongoing dialogue before the scheduled hearing. Monakisi said Samwu remains committed to these discussions, hoping to reach a mutually beneficial resolution in the best interest of workers. 'The union remains relentless in its position that the 3.5% salary increase, owed to workers from 2021, must be honoured. The prolonged delay in payment has imposed significant financial strain on municipal workers, who continue to provide essential services under increasingly difficult conditions. In this regard, Samwu's legal team is diligently preparing for the exemption hearing, with the aim of securing a just outcome for our members,' he said. Monakisi emphasised that the City of Tshwane has confirmed the availability of funds to meet its obligations to employees. He was referring to Mayor Nasiphi Moya's State of the Capital Address two months ago, where she noted Tshwane's improving financial outlook due to decisive actions and increasing resident support. 'We are proud to report that our cash reserves are projected to reach R2.86 billion in the 2025/26 financial year. This marks an important step toward financial stability, with our liquidity coverage improving from 23 days to 43 days over the next two years,' she said. The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union demanded transparency and accountability, arguing that the city cannot claim financial stability for the public while citing financial distress as a reason for not paying its workforce. Last month, the city and both unions jointly acknowledged the strain the ongoing wage dispute had placed on municipal employees. 'The city reaffirmed its appreciation for the dedication of its workforce and its commitment to working collaboratively with organised labour to find a fair and sustainable resolution,' parties said in a statement.
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Tshwane municipal workers' unions to negotiate 3. 5% wage increase
Labour unions, Imatu and Samwu, are set to restart CCMA-led wage negotiations with the City of Tshwane for a proposed 3,5% increase for the 2021/2022 financial year. Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers The two municipal workers' unions in Tshwane are expected to restart CCMA-led wage negotiations with the City of Tshwane this week for a proposed 3.5% increase for the 2021/2022 financial year. Both the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) will participate in the fresh negotiations following the recent Labour Court's May 9 ruling, which sent the matter back to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council for a new determination. The court, however, exempted the City from implementing the 5.4% salary increase for the 2023/2024 financial year that was agreed upon in collective negotiations. The City went to court two years ago after its application for exemption from a wage agreement with the unions was rejected by the bargaining council. The unions met with Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, on Friday to discuss the recent court ruling on the City's exemption applications regarding agreed-upon wage increases The parties issued a joint statement, describing their meeting as constructive and solution-focused. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'All parties acknowledged the strain the ongoing wage dispute has placed on municipal employees. The City reaffirmed its appreciation for the dedication of its workforce and its commitment to working collaboratively with organised labour to find a fair and sustainable resolution,' they said. The parties agreed to invoke Section 150 of the Labour Relations Act and engage in a CCMA-facilitated mediation to resolve the 3.5% salary increase dispute, believing it offers the best chance for a mutually beneficial outcome. Both Imatu and Samwu agreed to participate in the mediation in good faith but expressed disappointment with the court's ruling on the 5.4% increase, reserving their right to appeal the judgment after consulting with their members. 'The City, Imatu and Samwu remain committed to ongoing dialogue and will continue to explore all avenues that advance the interests of municipal employees, ensure service delivery, and serve the residents of Tshwane,' the three parties said. Imatu's regional manager Lynette Burns-Coetzee said in a television interview that municipal workers are demoralised and angry over the court's ruling against them regarding the 5.4% salary increases. However, she said, all parties are eager to move forward with a CCMA-facilitated mediation process. 'We might appeal the ruling to the Labour Appeal Court. We might even take it as far as the Constitutional Court. I am not speaking for Samwu but I know it has been in the media saying exactly the same thing,' she said. Burns-Coetzee said the CCMA will mediate discussions on the 3.5% dispute, aiming to bypass lengthy procedures and reach a settlement that can be made a court order. She said the 3.5% dispute being sent back to the bargaining council means starting from scratch, potentially leading to further reviews and prolonging the process by up to three years - a scenario all parties want to avoid. Samwu has criticised the court judgment, arguing it represents a concerning trend of judicial interference in collective bargaining, undermines worker protections, and weakens unions' ability to effectively represent members. Imatu noted in a media statement that Tshwane Mayor announced in April 2025 that the city's cash reserves are expected to reach R2.86 billion in the 2025/26 financial year. Samwu regional secretary, Donald Monakhisi, argued that with the City's reported cash reserves, there is no justification for delaying outstanding salary increases.
