Water supply in jeopardy during strike
'We don't know what the motives for this are. The employer promised to provide us with a report before April, but nothing has happened to date,' SAMWU Secretary Thabo Mpanza said
MEMBERS of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) working at the water purification plant at Empangeni Rail have vowed not to return to work until their demands are met.
The workers downed tools on Monday morning, accusing uMhlathuze Water of exploitation.
Local SAMWU Secretary Thabo Mpanza said some of their members were still working on a contract basis, while others were given full-time employment last year.
‘The full-time employees earn much more than the contracted workers who have been working at these plants for years.
‘We don’t know what the motives for this are. The employer promised to provide us with a report before April, but nothing has happened to date,’ Mpanza said.
‘No operations will take place at any water purification plants until our demands are met. The future of these workers looks very bleak.
‘No one knows what will happen to these workers if the contract between the City of uMhlathuze and Umhlathuzue Water lapses.
‘We have met with management of both uMhlathuze Water and the City of uMhlathuze to find solutions, but all our efforts were in vain,’ said Mpanza.
Umhlathuze Water spokesperson, Siyabonga Maphumulo, said all allegations raised by workers were being addressed.
‘It is said that our workers decided to embark on an illegal strike. We have engaged with them to discuss their demands and an agreement was reached. We signed a temporary agreement with them.’
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