Hearings to start against Pikitup’s striking workers

Disciplinary hearings against Pikitup workers who have “ignored two court interdicts and ultimatums” to return to work start on Tuesday.

The Johannesburg waste management company said that the three-day hearings will also see hear “charges levelled at those who have provoked the illegal strike and individuals who have been responsible for intimidation”.

A Pikitup statement said it “welcomes the city’s call to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to resume engagement with Pikitup to ensure that the terms set out in the politically facilitated agreement are carried out”.

It added that member of the mayoral committee Matshidiso Mfikoe had “reiterated that the city is also committed to ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and compensated accordingly”‚ but added that “this can only happen in a normal environment wherein workers are back at work so as to afford the mandated parties the opportunity to reach an amicable agreement”.

Mayor Parks Tau was expected to make an announcement on the issue on Tuesday morning.

Pikitup said it would “welcome employees should they want to return to work on Tuesday”.

It noted that “management and contingency teams have been hard at work clearing backlogs around the city”.

“The affected areas are being reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure cleanliness is restored to optimum levels‚” the statement said.

“Community members are increasingly heeding the call and over the Easter season‚ various community-led clean-up initiatives have been taken place throughout the city’s regions.”

The hashtag #pikitup was trending in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning‚ with Charles ngcobo ?@Nactizel666’s comment suggesting that he was in an area that hadn’t yet been attended to: “Jst saw a big ass rat...having a holiday in a trashcan‚ thank u #pikitup”.

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