2009-06-18: EMS management to meet union leadership
THE Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) Management has extended an invitation to the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) leadership, to a meeting penciled for early next week, pertaining to a range of issues, which among others, include career development.
May we hasten to put it on record that, the strike by SAMWU remains illegal and unprotected. Furthermore, we want to state it categorically that EMS Management did not, at any stage, enter into or where party to any agreement, regarding salary progression or any matter relating to that.
Various stakeholders have to date, intervened in this impasse. The Office of the MEC for Health, Gauteng Province and several high ranking City officials, were also involved.
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Management has since indicated that the documents and/or recorded audio material submitted to them have been evaluated and that they were satisfied that there was no tacit salary progression agreement between EMS Management and SAMWU. Instead, the recordings confirm that an in principle agreement was reached by the two parties, subject to ratification by the City Manager and/or the Mayoral Committee. Currently, the City is of the view that the Main Collective Agreement provides that matters relating to salaries and wages are the sole preserve of the national bargaining council and that salary progression and notches fall within the definition thereof and as such, should be dealt by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC).
Processes as mentioned above should be allowed to unfold as they should, at a National level (Bargaining Council) and that SAMWU members who are currently participating in this illegal industrial action should return to work immediately. Once the outcome is received, appropriate steps would be taken within the appropriate forum to address any prevailing concerns.
The continuing intimidation directed to non-striking members should be discontinued as matter of urgency. EMS Members who have been intimidated or feel intimidated by any individual have been adviced to lay criminal charges at any Police Station.
Issued on behalf of:
Dr Audrey Gule
Executive Head
Emergency Management Services
City of Johannesburg
Issued by:
Percy Morokane
Acting Communications Manager
Emergency Management Services
City of Johannesburg
Tel: +27 (0) 11 758 9540
Cel: +27 (0) 83 288 3751
For more information, please contact Percy Morokane
