Service Delivery Interruptions possible as
municipal staff down tools
Date: 8 November 2017
Please note that the new
overtime policy stipulates normal overtime pay rates for any staff member
earning above R205 433 per year. The overtime pay rates for those earning below
this figure remain unchanged.
Some municipal workers have chosen not to report for duty
today and will instead march to City Hall. This is likely to interrupt services
to residents.
The Municipality recently made an important decision to
pay municipal staff regular hourly rates for any weekend overtime
worked.
Previously, a rate of 1.5 and 2 was paid on Saturdays and
Sundays, respectively. This was unaffordable and widely abused, as noted and
found by the Auditor General, amongst others.
Despite a commitment by the Municipality to continue
paying overtime, but only at normal rates, some staff continue their efforts to
force the Administration to back down on this new overtime policy.
We have reason to believe that this has been the cause of
weeks of service delivery interruptions, with the South African Police Service
investigating a case of sabotage.
Again today we have seen a spike in power and water
outages as certain labor unions urge workers to down tools. We ask all residents
to prepare for further possible interruptions.
A contingency plan is in place, with a number of
contractors on stand by to assist where necessary.
This coalition government cannot pay more than normal
rates for overtime, otherwise the institution will have to cut costs in other
ways at a later stage - possibly through retrenchments.
This coalition government has had to make difficult
decisions, in support of long term financial sustainability and ongoing service
delivery improvements.
Every single municipal staff member and public
representative needs to put the residents of this Metro first.
We are civil servants, mandated to ensure that our fellow
South Africans have access to Services, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Issued by Nelson Mandela Bay Communications Office.