Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said it would be taking disciplinary action against workers involved in “go-slow” for past three weeks.
Executive mayor, Athol Trollip, said in a statement that talks between the Municipality and the SA Municipal Workers Union “have reached a stalemate.”
He said the workers are refusing to accept the Metor’s “final offer of 8 hours pay, with an upaid hour of lunch.”
Trollip said the stalemate was reached after “weeks of intense negotiations”.
“The Municipality has previously stated that what it was offering was final and its decision remains unchanged. We will not be forced to pay "incentive schemes" and "completion bonuses" for work that is already remunerated at 8 hours of pay,” he said.
Trollip said “this is a legally compliant and commensurate salary in waste collection, and has been benchmarked against eThekwini and the City of Cape Town.”
He said as such they “are proceeding with disciplinary action against every single striking staff member.”
Trollip said in the meantime theri contingency plan, through service providers, was picking up speed.
“Today (Fri), full rounds begin in our Metro's Northern Areas; that is both refuse bags and wheelie bins.
“Rounds will continue in all those areas and communities already serviced last week, with an additional wheelie bin service. Motherwell, Wells Estate and surrounds are volatile due to violent protests, and thus cannot be serviced at this time,” he said.
“By Monday, we hope to have 100% of all rounds in operation,” said Trollip
