Durban — EThekwini Municipal workers once again brought the City Hall to a standstill when they downed tools, disrupted traffic and demanded that deputy mayor Philani Mavundla allow them to work for more than 40 hours “overtime” per month.
On Friday, Mavundla was forced to address the workers, who were visibly angry and threatened to assault journalists taking pictures on the scene, demanding that Mavundla allow them to work overtime.
Mavundla said he had not been approached in regard to any grievances before the picketing and disruption of municipal services began, and invited those with grievances to report to his office.
“We are shocked to hear that you have decided to picket without even first notifying us. We deem this an illegal strike. However, I plead with you to follow proper processes and not just wake up one morning and demand things without properly engaging us through your representatives.
“What you are doing is wrong and we can not allow a culture of such conduct where people just block roads and protest without providing us an opportunity to engage and see if we can fix whichever problem you may be facing,” said Mavundla.
In response, one of the workers said they had resorted to picketing because they no longer trusted their union, and their representatives had sold them out.
“We have fired our union because we don’t believe that they are advocating for our interests. As the deputy mayor, we expect you not to sell us out like our leaders … That is why we are here, we need to be allowed to work overtime.”
After Mavundla proposed that aggrieved workers first contact his office, one employee threatened to shut down the electricity supply.
Mavundla replied that until all grievances had been brought to his office, he would not be able to engage the workers.
Speaking to the Daily News, the deputy mayor said the dispute emanated from the fact that workers demanded to work overtime for more than 40 hours a month, which was not allowed.
“That particular unit has two people in particular who have worked for more than 239 hours in the month of July alone. Their normal hours give them a salary of over R11 000 at 160 hours per month. On their overtime which is not allowed by the law, they have each earned themselves over R25 000,” said Mavundla.
The City recently implemented a policy that cuts overtime pay by 50% and limits work hours to 32 hours per worker per month. Last month, the executive committee expressed displeasure at the workers following Durban Solid Waste staff members who downed tools, protesting against the reduction of their overtime.
DA caucus leader and exco member Thabani Mthethwa said workers randomly downing tools were becoming a thorn in the side of the municipality rendering services to the people.
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said he had had enough of the workers downing tools.
“People should shape up and those who no longer want to work for the City should ship out,” Kaunda said.
Daily News