Volume 10, No.2 - March 2001
We're part of the union
Local Government wages Num statement
Low offer from municipal bosses
This year's wage negotiations for municipal workers promise to be a showdown between the government's macro-economic policies and the pockets of 230 000 workers, who have felt severely the effects of fiscal austerity measures.
Increases over the past few years have barely kept up with inflation. Thousands of jobs have been lost as a result of privatisation and other downsizing activities by municipalities.
The unions demand a minimum wage of R2 100 per month and an across-the-board increase of R475 or 15%, whichever is the greater. "The existing minimum in local government of R1 600 per month has resulted in over 30% of the workforce living in poverty," says SAMWU Collective Bargaining Officer Dale Forbes.
"With privatised services such as Nelspruit's privatised water now costing about R400 per month per household, municipal workers on the minimum are not even able to afford the basic services they deliver."
While an increase to R2 100 per month would only just allow these workers and their families to eke out an existence for another year, the SA Local Government Association (Salga) has refused to increase the minimum at all.
Their counter-offer of 3% across the board and no increase on the minimum is a slap in the face for local government workers. With inflation currently above 8%, this proposed cut in real wages will have disastrous consequences - increased poverty and instability in a period where improvements in service delivery to the mass of the population are essential.
Salga is also fiercely resisting union attempts to close the apartheid wage gap. The unions are demanding that the salaries of all municipal workers, irrespective of their senior status, be bound by the outcome of the negotiations. This would reduce the wage gap between the highest and lowest earners.
"In some local authorities such as the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council the wage gap is 16:1," says Forbes. "This apartheid wage looks set to continue; once again we see the employers refusing to allow the salaries of high earners to be negotiated."
Salga has furthermore defied the provisions of the SA Local Government Bargaining Council that provide for annual increases. Their proposal insists on a 3% increase for 2001/2 and 2002/3. This attempt to halve the increases will not be taken lying down.
NUM concerned about harmony AngloGold deal
By George Molebatsi NUM spokesperson
Harmony Gold Mine Limited is about to acquire Deelkraal and Elandsrand mines from Anglo-Gold. This merger takes place behind the back of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and in total disregard for the negotiations and consultation that must accompany such mergers.
The NUM has been engaged at the tail end of the process while the companies have been negotiating for some considerable time.
This means that the union, as one of the major stakeholders, has been ignored. The retrenchment of almost 2000 workers, which will result from the deal, makes our participation in decision making an imperative.
The laws of this country have been bypassed and the unemployment levels totally disregarded. The companies have consistently been driven solely by the profit motive and disregard for the social and broader economic consequences of their business practices.
The NUM will consistently engage these companies until there is an acceptance on their part that the union is an essential partner in the industry. The union views their actions as contemptuous and callous.
The proposed acquisition of De Beers by Anglo and the Oppenheimer family is another merger looming large in our economic horizon. The delisting of De Beers will also bring economic woes of untold dimensions to our shores and that of our neighbouring countries. It must be opposed vehemently.
