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Johannesburg operating as normal


The City of Johannesburg and its Municipal-Owned Entities (MOEs) have commended employees' commitment to service delivery by recording between 95 to 100 percent attendance at work during the sympathy strike action initiated by the South African Municipal Worker's Union (SAMWU) yesterday.

Entities like emergency services (EMS), municipal police (JMPD) and public health (clinics), water and sanitation, power and waste collection (Pikitup) ran normally. MetroBus, which experienced a violent strike costing three lives earlier this year, recorded a 100 percent attendance.

"Our primary duty as municipal workers is to provide service to the public under all prevailing circumstances. I would like to thank all our employees for fulfilling this mandate," said Johannesburg City Manager Mavela A.V. Dlamini.

There was limited challenge in the inner city where business units like Pikitup and MetroBus could not operate because of the huge traffic movement of the strikers. Normal services were, however, is being restored by late afternoon.

Two Pikitup depots, in Zondi, Soweto and in Norwood, had poor attendances which affected operations in areas where they operate.

At the Selby deport there has been a localized labour dispute which continued today.

The City Manager issued a reminder to management and employees that the Labour Court had allowed members of SAMWU to strike for one day only (June 13 2007). He said he expected all employees to return to work from tomorrow (Thursday 14 June).

He reiterated that the City did not have any dispute with SAMWU or other municipal workers' unions and that it will in fact implement its three-year salary/wage agreement from July 1, 2007 concluded last year at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) bargaining forum.

Ends

Issued by: Gabu Tugwana, Communications Director
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: 011 407 7162 Fax: 01
11 339 1531 Cell: 082 495 5673
e-mail: gabut@joburg.org.za

Nthatisi Modingoane
Media Liaison Officer
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9221
8 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za