THE issuing of driver's licences, road maintenance, traffic policing and refuse collection is likely to be interrupted in Johannesburg when hundreds of workers are expected to join the South African Municipal Workers Union's nation-wide strike today.
Samwu provincial organiser Jack Mokalapa said yesterday issues within the union had been resolved and its biggest region would join other union members across the country who had been on the streets demanding wage increases.
Samwu is demanding an 18percent wage increase, while the employer, the SA Local Government Association, is offering 6,08percent.
"Joburg was absent from the march on Friday because of internal politics. These have been resolved and Joburg residents should expect interruption to the city's services," Mokalapa said.
Among services that will be interrupted are Metrobus, Metro Police, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Water and the Johannesburg Licensing Department.
The strike is expected to impact on 262 municipalities in the country with an estimated 200000 workers who have downed tools.
"What we are saying is that as long as the employers do not revise their offer, we will continue with the strike," Mokalapa said. "Senior people in the city earn a lot of money and receive salary increases that are way above inflation.
"So the argument that our demands are high is not true."
He said the union hoped that after handing its memorandum of demands to the office of the premier the process to resolve the strike would be quicker.
Mokalapa said Samwu was committed to a non-violent strike. Last week a number of striking workers in other provinces littered the streets and looted items from hawkers.
"Our position is clear ... we do not want violence in our strike," he said.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has referred the Impala Platinum wage dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) as members rejected the offer.
NUM and the world's number two platinum producer have been engaged in wage talks over the past few weeks.
At the heart of the dispute is the fact that workers would not be able to realise a minimum wage of R5000 a month in 2011 but will be deferred to 2012.
Yesterday NUM said Impala improved its offer to 10percent for the lowest paid workers for year one and year two, while it improved to 9percent for middle-paid workers for both years.
Joburg services to grind to halt
THE issuing of driver's licences, road maintenance, traffic policing and refuse collection is likely to be interrupted in Johannesburg when hundreds of workers are expected to join the South African Municipal Workers Union's nation-wide strike today.
Samwu provincial organiser Jack Mokalapa said yesterday issues within the union had been resolved and its biggest region would join other union members across the country who had been on the streets demanding wage increases.
Samwu is demanding an 18percent wage increase, while the employer, the SA Local Government Association, is offering 6,08percent.
"Joburg was absent from the march on Friday because of internal politics. These have been resolved and Joburg residents should expect interruption to the city's services," Mokalapa said.
Among services that will be interrupted are Metrobus, Metro Police, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Water and the Johannesburg Licensing Department.
The strike is expected to impact on 262 municipalities in the country with an estimated 200000 workers who have downed tools.
"What we are saying is that as long as the employers do not revise their offer, we will continue with the strike," Mokalapa said. "Senior people in the city earn a lot of money and receive salary increases that are way above inflation.
"So the argument that our demands are high is not true."
He said the union hoped that after handing its memorandum of demands to the office of the premier the process to resolve the strike would be quicker.
Mokalapa said Samwu was committed to a non-violent strike. Last week a number of striking workers in other provinces littered the streets and looted items from hawkers.
"Our position is clear ... we do not want violence in our strike," he said.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has referred the Impala Platinum wage dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) as members rejected the offer.
NUM and the world's number two platinum producer have been engaged in wage talks over the past few weeks.
At the heart of the dispute is the fact that workers would not be able to realise a minimum wage of R5000 a month in 2011 but will be deferred to 2012.
Yesterday NUM said Impala improved its offer to 10percent for the lowest paid workers for year one and year two, while it improved to 9percent for middle-paid workers for both years.
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