Durban - A political party has condemned the unprotected strike by staff in the Msunduzi Municipality’s City Engineers department that started last week, saying the city’s ratepayers deserve better.
“Workers must, in terms of the law, follow due process as prescribed by all the relevant legislation,” said ACDP councillor Rienus Niemand.
“The Mercury” has seen a letter with the signature of the new municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba directing workers to return to work. The letter was directed to the labour union,the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
The letter said staff members in the Msunduzi Municipality have been warned to end their “unlawful strike action.”
“You are hereby informed that the strike which you have embarked on from October 3 at the City Engineers Department is unprotected in terms of the Labour law relations act.
“You are hereby instructed to return without delay. Any employee absent without leave or reducing to work will face disciplinary action, which may include dismissal,” said the letter.
It warned that failure to abide by the instruction would leave the municipality with no choice but to go to the labour court to seek further relief.
Samwu said it was aware of the letter.
Niemand said the city’s ratepayers deserved better from their staff.
“The ratepayers and businesses who pay the salaries of the workers by extension through their rates and taxes are entitled to getting service delivery and living normal lives.
“Likewise, the workers are entitled to fair treatment. The law provides for all of these processes. Only if this is done can the outcome be just and equitable. The disruption of services and its consequences are unacceptable.
“The ACDP calls on the workers to return to duty without delay and to follow the available legislated routes as we all as law-abiding citizens should do. It is time for discipline and order, hard work, productivity and building a fair and just society,” said Niemand.
THE MERCURY