Municipal workers union, SAMWU says it will be taking the case relating to the alleged dismissal of some 130 City of Johannesburg workers to the local government bargaining council. They say they are exploring all avenues including going to court to challenge the legality of the process. However they have not ruled out embarking on strike action.
SAMWU says the workers which include assistant directors, operational managers, messengers, and drivers have been furnished with letters where workers were asked to make representation on how their irregular appointments should be regularised. The City alleges that the employees’ contracts were irregularly converted from fixed term to permanent employment. SAMWU’s Ester Mtatyana says as union they believe the decision taken by the Joburg council is illegal and unlawful.
“The City has failed to give these employees an opportunity to be moved to other departments within the City given the fact that they do not want to work with them anymore. Council is not an employer of these employees and as such it cannot dismiss them, their conditions of employment are dealt with by the administration and not council. Council is only responsible for Section 56 & 57 employees which are municipal managers and those who report directly to them,” says Ester Mtatyana.
VIDEO: Showdown looms between the City of Johannesburg and 130 employees
