The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has been served with a notice to strike by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). The strike action began on Friday (27 February 2015).
According to a statement issued by the JRA, the strike is the result of a dispute on three main matters, out of an original 15, that management and SAMWU have not been able to reach consensus.
These include a demand for the introduction of a pay progression system in the JRA starting with a once off Structural adjustment of salaries of all employees in Levels 6-9; a demand for the increase in the Locomotion Allowance for Inspectors from R4 500 to R8 500; and the removal of one depot manager in Region F where there are currently two depot managers assigned to the full region and inner city respectively.
According to the statement, the JRA board and management are of the view that these three issues do not necessarily justify strike action as management has provided clear and viable processes that are currently underway to
address concerns in these areas. Management views the demands in serious light and is committed to reaching consensus with SAMWU on the processes that will resolve the current impasse.
“We have a created an environment that is conducive to progressive engagements within the JRA and there is absolutely no need for us to have an adversarial relationship with Organised Labour,” says JRA MD Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
“We would like to get back to the negotiation table with SAMWU as soon as possible, this time seeking assistance from both the JRA Board and the City of Johannesburg in order to find speedy resolution.”
The JRA and SAMWU have agreed that the strike will be peaceful and controlled; that workers who don’t want to strike will not be intimidated, that company resources will not be abused by striking workers and that the door for negotiations will be kept open.
The JRA has put a strike management plan in place will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to all stakeholders as required.
