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The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the KZN province notes and welcomes with celebration the reinstatement of 119 employees that were dismissed by the Ugu District Municipality in 2019 for embarking on an unprotected strike. We understand the pain and suffering that the workers have endured as a result of their dismissals; the impact was further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic which gravely affected unemployed South Africans. 

As per the settlement agreement which was made an order of the Labour Court in Durban on the 19th October 2022, all the 119 employees will be reinstated effective from the 1st November 2022. Furthermore, all these employees will be receiving twelve months’ salary as compensation for lost income as a result of the termination of their employment. Parties have also agreed that further engagements should be held between labour and the municipality on the payment of employer contributions towards their pension funds for an agreed period of twenty-four months. 

We urge municipalities to always act with the intention of ensuring sound industrial relations in all municipalities. We are of the view that working together as equal stakeholders, both municipal management and labour will ensure that services rendered to residents in the province are not compromised. 

Similarly, we thank our members for having shown confidence and trust in the union to bring to fruition their return to work. We understand that the process has been long and draining on workers, however, the wait was worth it, although we believe that this matter could have been resolved earlier had all parties shown and commitment to its timeously conclusion. 

We further thank the leadership of the alliance at local, regional and provincial levels for the assistance, commitment and dedication that they invested in this process. We hope that many municipalities across the province can take away the experiences and maturity in which these engagements were held. It is our wish that this should be emulated by other municipalities, the protection of workers and delivery of service delivery remains the responsibility of both employers and employees. We trust that the management of Ugu District Municipality will ensure that there are sound relations and an open-door policy to allow workers to engage earnestly and in good faith on issues affecting workers without the need to embark on strike actions. 

Once again, we thank workers for the trust that they placed in the union. We wish them well as they return to work on the 1st November 2022. We obviously understand the trials and tribulations which they have endured as a result of the dismissals which resulted in some losing their families, homes and other personal possessions. We understand that the process of rebuilding their lives and credit profiles will take time, they should however find solace in the fact that SAMWU has always had, and will always have their interest at heart. 

Given the recent victories on behalf of members and municipal workers in the province by the union, we are convinced that the union has returned to the basics being championing the interests of workers and putting members first. We commit ourselves to continually ensuring that our members are treated with fairness and cushioned from the wrath of municipalities who have resorted to dismissing and victimizing workers when disagreements arise in the workplace. 

We further call on other municipal workers in the province to join and become full members of SAMWU so that they too can benefit from the achievements and gains that are continually made by the union in the province. 

Issued by SAMWU KZN