South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU)

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Water talks fail - Unions prepare to strike!

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
30th July 2010

The crunch talks on the wage dispute that exists in the water sector failed to deliver any positive results yesterday. Employer body SAAWU (South African Association of Water Utilities) refused to make any further move beyond its offer of 9% across the board.

This intransigent position left SAMWU and its Trade Union allies no option but to ask the commissioner to issue a certificate that will allow the Unions to call their members out on a national strike. The water supply to Municipalities throughout the country will dry up!

WATER TALKS SET TO BURST TODAY

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
29th July 2010

Parties are set to meet today in Pretoria for crunch talks on the wage dispute that exists in the water sector. If talks fail to deliver any positive results today, SAMWU will consider calling its members out on a national strike; this would mean water supplies to Municipalities throughout the country will dry up.

Parties represented largely by SAMWU (South African Municipal Workers’ Union) and the smaller unions UASA and NEHAWU are engaged in centralised bargaining for the sector, together with the employers’ organisation SAAWU (South African Association of Water Utilities).

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
28th July 2010

Mbombela Councillors are arrogantly appointing general workers during caucus meetings, violating the Recruitment and Selections Policy of the Municipality, opening up avenues for corruption.

Councillors do feature in the appointment process as politicians but they are not allowed to recruit workers during caucus meetings and violate policy. The appointment of general workers does not require the council’s participation.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
27 July 2010

SAMWU in the Limpopo Province has learnt with dismay that the Sekhukhune District Municipality has authorized and allowed the illegal payment of salary to Mr Moswane France , even though he has not worked for the Municipality for more than a year.

As the Largest Local Government Union we view the above as criminal. The Sekhukhune Municipality has been involved in a number of corrupt activities in the recent past.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
22 July 2010.

SAMWU in the Eastern Cape is perturbed by the decision of the Provincial Health Department to continue with the “Provincialisation” of Primary Health Care, to be administered by the Provincial Health Department, as opposed to the District and Local Municipalities, which is the current arrangement.

As the largest Local Government Union It is our considered view that such basic services should be provided by Municipalities, as Municipalities are the center of gravity for the provision of quality service delivery. Furthermore, we believe that the local state has the capacity to provide for primary health care and that Municipalities are better placed and equipped to respond to the needs of our communities as opposed to Provincial Government.

SAMWU Condemns Racial Attack

SAMWU Condemns Racial Attack by the Media in Limpopo

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
20 July 2010.

Newspapers in the Limpopo Province especially the Tzaneen Community Newspapers’ obsession with sensational reporting has led to a distortion of the truth and has even tried to deflect grave issues of corruption and nepotism raised by the largest Local Government Union SAMWU, all because of these newspapers long held view; to protect the elite and white minority.

The local newspapers have resorted to obscuring of facts, and have adopted a hostile approach when reporting on issues raised by SAMWU. We caution these newspapers and encourage them to report accurately and convey the truth. It is quite well known with the community Newspapers in Tzaneen that certain groups are more important than others.

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