Tshwane Wage Deal Finally SignedBut Critics Warn of ‘More Potholes, More Outages’

After months of delays and behind-closed-doors negotiations, the City of Tshwane has finally signed a wage increase agreement with its municipal workers.

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) confirmed the deal was signed early yesterday.

The Deal

Mayor Nasiphi Moya, alongside unions and EFF members, announced last month that:

• Salaries will increase by 3.5% , effective from the beginning of March

• The increase applies to both basic salaries and benefits

• Backpay will be paid over three years, calculated from 1 July 2021, on basic salary only

The Warning

Cilliers Brink, DA Tshwane mayoral candidate, warned that the increase would lead to more power cuts, more water outages, and more potholesbecause less money would be available for infrastructure and service delivery.

“We’re privileging municipal salary increments over service delivery to residents, many of whom don’t have jobs because they live in broken cities.”

He added: “The ANC knows the cheques they are writing will be cashed when they are no longer in power.”

The Joburg Context

The DA in Johannesburg last week formally served the City of Joburg with legal papers to stop the implementation of an unfunded R10 billion salary agreement with Samwu, which threatens to push the municipality deeper into financial crisis.

Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Joburg caucus leader, described that decision as “fiscally reckless and irresponsible.”

“The DA is not opposed to fair and lawful wage negotiations, or inflation-aligned increases. However, any salary adjustment must be responsible, budgeted for, with proper financial analysis, and aligned with the city’s financial reality.”

The Union’s Response

Mpho Tladinyane, Samwu Gauteng secretary, pushed back.

He said the agreement reached in Johannesburg is not reckless or arbitrary, but intended to correct long-standing salary disparities affecting thousands of workers.

“The recent decision by the DA to serve legal papers to stop the implementation of this agreement confirms what workers across the country have long known: the DA has consistently positioned itself as a political formation that is hostile to workers and their rights.”

He linked the Joburg developments to Tshwane: “In Tshwane, the DA-led administration refused to implement legally negotiated wage agreements and dragged workers through years of litigation.”

The Bottom Line

Tshwane’s workers have their increase3.5%, plus backpay.

But critics warn the city will pay for it in crumbling infrastructure and declining services.

The unions say it’s justice for workers. The DA says it’s a disaster for residents.

In a city with potholes, power cuts, and water outages, both might be right.

{Source: Citizen}

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