Around 150 000 municipal workers are expected to embark on a countrywide strike from today in an attempt to get better pay. This action comes as talks over the weekend in Kempton Park between the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and labour unions, South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) failed to produce a breakthrough.
Samwu and Imatu have both rejected an 11.5% wage increase. However, Salga says it remains hopeful that agreement will be reached. Apart from disruptions to municipal services, the dispensing of medicines at public hospitals will also be affected, while licensing offices and testing stations will be closed. In Johannesburg, there will be marches to municipal and local government offices.
Metro police spokesperson, Edna Mamonyane, says motorists should try to avoid the Central Business District.
The industrial action is the latest in a series of challenges facing the country in a time of an economic recession. There were also violent demonstrations in several townships last week, during which some 200 people were arrested, foreigners displaced and stores looted.
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