Pretoria – The City of Tshwane has been granted an interim interdict against its striking workers by the Labour Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, yesterday.
The City said it approached the Labour Court on an urgent basis following a week-long unlawful and illegal protest by employees affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).
The City accuses SAMWU members of intimidating their non-striking colleagues and causing damage to property.
“The court correctly declared the strike action unlawful and unprotected and ordered the striking employees to disperse, and further restrained them from participating in the unlawful strike/unprotected strike action and performing any acts in continuance or furtherance thereof,” the City said on Saturday.
“Furthermore, the striking workers are interdicted and restrained from performing any acts of destruction of the City of Tshwane’s property and any private or public property, or from performing acts of intimidation to any of the city’s employees.
“A total of 15 employees have been arrested and charged with public violence and are facing three internal charges which may lead to their dismissal.”
The City of Tshwane said it “trusts” that the SAMWU leadership will respect and comply with the court order and allow the striking workers to return to work and discharge their responsibilities of providing service delivery to the residents and customers.
The City said it will put in place a plan to fast-track the backlog of service interruptions occasioned by the unlawful and unprotected strike.
“The executive and management of the city wish to apologise for the inconvenience caused,” the City said.
EWN is reporting that the workers affiliated with SAMWU downed tools on Wednesday, to demand wage increases.
The union said workers are owed a 3.5% salary increase from 2021 and a 5.4% increase that should have been implemented this week.
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink said he has tried to reason with the workers, but they have refused to accept the decision made.
The mayor warned that the City will implement the no-work no-pay rule if workers did not return to work on Monday.