On 27 February 2024, hundreds of eThekwini Municipality workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) downed tools and marched through Durban’s city centre in an unprotected strike to demand better wages.The strike has gone on for over two weeks, leaving residents in some areas without services, including water, electricity, refuse removal, sewer repairs, and maintenance. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda stated in a post-council media briefing on Wednesday, 13 March 2024, that workers had begun returning to work and services would resume. Why workers went on strikeWorkers went on strike for higher wages, complaining that their pay was lower than their counterparts in other metros such as Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. A general worker in eThekwini earns about R10,000 a month, while general workers in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni earn about R13,900, according to Xolani Dube, SAMWU regional secretary in eThekwini.Workers handed over a memorandum to Khayo Mpungose, from Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda’s office, on the first day of the February march. The day after, it was reported that most municipal services would be resumed. But this was short-lived as the workers soon resumed the strike, bringing the metro’s municipal services to a standstill.Dube said the union leadership met on Monday, 11 March 2024, with Kaunda, and they came to an agreement that workers will go back to work while talks are ongoing. Kaunda told the media it is going to take two weeks for services to be properly restored.Many workers have still not gone back to work, with some fearing that they will face violence from other workers still outon strike, according to Councillor Muzi Thusi (ANC) of ward 38. Talks between the SAMWU leadership and municipal officials are ongoing, according to a worker in the SAMWU offices. On Friday (15 March 2024) hundreds of workers affiliated to SAMWU were waiting outside the municipal offices to hear if they will receive a pay increase. The municipality has called the strike “illegal”. It has applied the “no work, no pay and no benefits” principle, according to municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana.So far 81 municipal workers have been put on precautionary suspension, and 88 have been dismissed for participating in the “unlawful industrial action”, the mayor said on Wednesday, 13 March 2024. A further 1,891 employees have also been given notices of misconduct.During the week of 11 March 2024 Kaunda asked residents not to alert striking workers about teams working in various areas to restore services. “This has led to the attack of some employees. Many communities have been without water and electricity for several days resulting in patients unable to access health care,” he said. Last week in Phoenix two municipal workers were shot at and injured while on site trying to restore electricity to the area. A municipal water truck driver in Phoenix was attacked and had to be hospitalised. Union distances itself from strikeOn 18 March 2024, three weeks after the strike started, SAMWU distanced itself from the protests, saying workers acted on their own accord.In a report, eThekwini city manager, Musa Mbhele, said the City was in the process of instituting a lawsuit for the vandalism committed during the strike. “This claim is against the union under whose banner the unprotected strike was undertaken,” read the report.Protests across the municipality Residents have sat without services for weeks in Hillcrest, Embo, Mariannridge, Mpola, Ntuzuma, Inanda, Redcliffe, Buffelsdraai, Waterloo, Parkgate, Umlazi, KwaMakhutha, Adams Mission, eNgonyameni, Phoenix, Verulam, oThongathi, Trenance Park and KwaXimba. Protests erupted in Phoenix on Thursday with residents blocking Phoenix Highway and Fernham Drive with sand andburning tyres. They had been without water and electricity for over 12 days, and the municipality was not communicating with them, the protesters claimed. The demonstrators were dispersed by police.Nqobile Gwala, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, said: “Two suspects aged 27 and 29 were arrested for publicviolence and damage to infrastructure. Another 42-year-old man was found in unlawful possession of a firearm and 15 rounds of ammunition. The suspects will appear in court soon.”Residents said the police should rather be escorting workers not on strike so that they can do their jobs in safety.“The lack of services and prevailing filth in the city have left the residents feeling abandoned by the authorities,” said MPL Bradley Singh (DA). Critically discuss whether the strike by the eThekwini municipal workers was a protected strike or an unprotected strike
On 27 February 2024, hundreds of eThekwini Municipality workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) downed tools and marched through Durban’s city centre in an unprotected strike to demand better wages.The strike has gone on for over two weeks, leaving residents in some areas without services, including water, electricity, refuse removal, sewer repairs, and maintenance. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda stated in a post-council media briefing on Wednesday, 13 March 2024, that workers had begun returning to work and services would resume.
Why workers went on strike
Workers went on strike for higher wages, complaining that their pay was lower than their counterparts in other metros such as Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. A general worker in eThekwini earns about R10,000 a month, while general workers in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni earn about R13,900, according to Xolani Dube, SAMWU regional secretary in eThekwini.Workers handed over a memorandum to Khayo Mpungose, from Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda’s office, on the first day of the February march.
The day after, it was reported that most municipal services would be resumed. But this was short-lived as the workers soon resumed the strike, bringing the metro’s municipal services to a standstill.
Dube said the union leadership met on Monday, 11 March 2024, with Kaunda, and they came to an agreement that workers will go back to work while talks are ongoing.
Kaunda told the media it is going to take two weeks for services to be properly restored.
Many workers have still not gone back to work, with some fearing that they will face violence from other workers still outon strike, according to Councillor Muzi Thusi (ANC) of ward 38. Talks between the SAMWU leadership and municipal officials are ongoing, according to a worker in the SAMWU offices.
On Friday (15 March 2024) hundreds of workers affiliated to SAMWU were waiting outside the municipal offices to hear if they will receive a pay increase. The municipality has called the strike “illegal”. It has applied the “no work, no pay and no benefits” principle, according to municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana.
So far 81 municipal workers have been put on precautionary suspension, and 88 have been dismissed for participating in the “unlawful industrial action”, the mayor said on Wednesday, 13 March 2024. A further 1,891 employees have also been given notices of misconduct.
During the week of 11 March 2024 Kaunda asked residents not to alert striking workers about teams working in various areas to restore services. “This has led to the attack of some employees. Many communities have been without water and electricity for several days resulting in patients unable to access health care,” he said. Last week in Phoenix two municipal workers were shot at and injured while on site trying to restore electricity to the area. A municipal water truck driver in Phoenix was attacked and had to be hospitalised. Union distances itself from strike
On 18 March 2024, three weeks after the strike started, SAMWU distanced itself from the protests, saying workers acted on their own accord.In a report, eThekwini city manager, Musa Mbhele, said the City was in the process of instituting a lawsuit for the vandalism committed during the strike. “This claim is against the union under whose banner the unprotected strike was undertaken,” read the report.
Protests across the municipality Residents have sat without services for weeks in Hillcrest, Embo, Mariannridge, Mpola, Ntuzuma, Inanda, Redcliffe, Buffelsdraai, Waterloo, Parkgate, Umlazi, KwaMakhutha, Adams Mission, eNgonyameni, Phoenix, Verulam, oThongathi, Trenance Park and KwaXimba.
Protests erupted in Phoenix on Thursday with residents blocking Phoenix Highway and Fernham Drive with sand and
burning tyres. They had been without water and electricity for over 12 days, and the municipality was not communicating with them, the protesters claimed. The demonstrators were dispersed by police.
Nqobile Gwala, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, said: “Two suspects aged 27 and 29 were arrested for public
violence and damage to infrastructure. Another 42-year-old man was found in unlawful possession of a firearm and 15 rounds of ammunition. The suspects will appear in court soon.”
Residents said the police should rather be escorting workers not on strike so that they can do their jobs in safety.
“The lack of services and prevailing filth in the city have left the residents feeling abandoned by the authorities,” said MPL Bradley Singh (DA).
Critically discuss whether the strike by the eThekwini municipal workers was a protected strike or an unprotected strike
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