Union threatens Rand Water

The SA Municipal Workers Union will embark on a strike at Rand Water and bring water supply to its knees this week, it says.

The SA Municipal Workers Union would embark on a strike at Rand Water and bring water supply to its knees this week, it said on Monday.

”The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has served Rand Water with notice to strike within 48 hours, a move that will result in a full blown industrial action at the water utility,” union spokesman Papikie Mohale said.

”We are currently talking to our members on the nature and type industrial action that we will be engaged in.”

Samwu demanded a 10 percent increase for lowest paid workers, nine precent for middle income workers and eight percent for supervisors. It also demanded a 12 percent incentive bonus and R2 150 housing allowance across the board.

Rand Water offered a six percent wage increase.

Samwu is a majority union at Rand Water. Mohale added that the strike would affect services in Gauteng and some areas in Mpumalanga.

”We call on the board chairperson and the entire board to intervene unless they are ready to take the blame for the consequences that will follow as a result of the full blown indefinite industrial action,” he said.

“When taps run dry in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, members of the communities should ask the Rand Water board why they have not committed to allowing an increase that will benefit the workers.”

The union gave Rand Water a notice to strike on Friday.

Rand Water spokesman Justice Mohale said the company would formally respond on the looming strike before the end of business on Monday.

ANA