Tshwane: Possible deal on the table for workers

This comes after workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) stormed Tshwane House in the Pretoria CBD on Tuesday. 

The union accused the city of backtracking on a decision made to pay workers outstanding salaries.

City spokesperson Selby Bokaba says officials cannot give in to all the workers’ demands.

“We are hoping there is some form of agreement today. If that agreement is reached today, then we are hoping things will return to normal by tomorrow (Friday) morning."

Several services were halted by the city amid disruptions, including the Tshwane bus services.

“The administrators have made it very clear that bench marking payments are very unaffordable, they made it very clear to the unions,” Bokaba says.

“What the administrators have committed to do however is o ensure that they pay the 6.25% salary increments so that commitment they haven’t run away from.”

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Samwu regional secretary Mpho Tladinyane says he is aware of a proposal.

“We had a meeting with the employers on the two issues that are on the table – the salary increase and the payment for the bench marking exercise done last year and what is happening is that the employer put a number of proposals there on how they can pay all these things.

“As we speak now, they are finalising a written proposal.”

Tladinyane confirmed that workers were still occupying Tshwane House pending an agreement with the city.

He says the situation is calm, despite a brief stint with law enforcement.

The conflict between the two parties is longstanding.