Sir,
The trashing of Buffalo City, burning of tyres and general lawlessness of the South African Municipal Workers Union members without any form of accountability is the type of behaviour that hardens attitudes against their demands. Instead of demonstrating why they deserve the increases, SAMWU’s members resort to violence and looting (as evidenced in the City of Cape Town) to pressurize municipalities into surrender. The Democratic Alliance has, through its national spokesperson on labour issues, Ian Ollis MP, proposed that unions and union leaders be held responsible for any damage, injury and illegal acts proved to have been committed by their members while on strike.
But the problem is deeper than this. Every local municipality in South Africa forms part of SALGA, the South African Local Government Association, who act as the employer body in collective bargaining with the union. What that means, is that SALGA negotiates a single wage agreement on behalf of every municipality regardless of the affordability thereof. This inflationary pressure forces poorer municipalities to implement higher rates and tariffs, simply to meet the demands of an increasingly unproductive workforce.
It is time the unions and their members learned that they are employed at the employer’s pleasure. The right to strike does not imply the right to destroy property or intimidate and assault those who do not share their views. The DA respects the rights of workers, but such respect is a two-way street, and we cannot, under any circumstances, condone the behaviour of union officials and striking workers.
Cllr. Kevin Mileham
DA Chief Whip
Buffalo City
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