Durban — The DA in eThekwini has called for disciplinary action against Durban Solid Waste (DSW) employees for holding the municipality at ransom.
This prompted DA eThekwini deputy caucus leader Mzamo Billy to write to the acting city manager Musa Mbhele to request urgent and decisive action against DSW employees partaking in the ongoing illegal strike.
“This is after the municipality, today (Tuesday), confirmed that there is yet another illegal work stoppage by DSW employees due to the council-approved 50% overtime budget cut. These incidents affect waste collection services in many parts of the city and have left residents and businesses in disarray,” Billy said.
He demanded clarity on the following:
1. What action is being taken against employees to prevent ongoing illegal DSW protests?
2. How many employees have been held accountable and facing disciplinary action for engaging in an illegal DSW protest?
3. Confirmation of whether or not the principle of no work, no pay will be used for those DSW employees involved in illegal protests?
4. Contingency plan/s are in place currently and for the future to clear waste as a result of these illegal DSW protests taking place.
“While employees have a right to protest in a legally protected manner, what DSW employees are currently doing is demanding and holding the city at ransom to work illegal hours. It has been widely reported that there are DSW employees who have been working over 200 hours per month, and this must never be allowed to happen,” Billy said.
“We urge the city manager, tasked to execute council laws and decisions and being the executive head for all city staff, to put the residents of the city first by addressing the issue of DSW employees engaging in numerous illegal protests by holding them accountable.”
Billy added that employees who are involved in a sequence of illegal protests must face urgent disciplinary action and be fired if need be to allow space for those who want to work and keep our city clean.
In his letter to Mbhele, Billy told him that there was another illegal work stoppage by DSW employees.
He said that on August 2, the municipality also confirmed that DSW employees had embarked on an illegal go-slow due to the overtime budget cut. Both these incidents affected waste collection services in many parts of the city and left residents and businesses in disarray.
“I have no doubt that you would agree with me that while employees have a right to protest, what DSW employees are currently doing is demanding and holding the city at ransom to work illegal hours. It has widely been reported that there are DSW employees who have been working over 200 hours per month, and this must never be allowed to happen,” the letter read.
“As a person who we have tasked to execute council laws and decisions and being the executive head for all city staff, I am urging you to put the residents of the city first by addressing the issue of DSW employees. Employees, who are involved in a sequence of illegal protests, must face urgent disciplinary action and be fired if need be to allow space for those who want to work and keep our city clean.”
About two weeks ago, DSW employees downed tools and marched to the city hall to submit their grievances after the eThekwini Municipality cut their overtime.
Earlier on Tuesday, the city’s Communications Unit said there was an interruption of waste and street sweeping services due to an illegal work stoppage.
“Cleansing and Solid Waste employees have embarked on this work stoppage due to the overtime cut that was implemented on August 1, 2022.
“Residents and businesses are requested to keep refuse bags and bins inside their properties until the situation is resolved. The city apologises for the inconvenience caused,” the unit said in a short statement.
Daily News