City is ready for mass strike

Plans are in place for the Cosatu-led strike against e-tolling and labour brokering today, and no service disruptions are expected.
CONTINGENCY plans have been put in place by the City in readiness for the strike in Joburg’s inner city against e-tolling and labour brokering by Cosatu today.

Disruptions to essential services are not anticipated; health, bulk water, police, emergency management services and electricity services are expected to run as usual.

“Johannesburg supports the right of workers to exercise their rights as enshrined in our country’s Constitution and Labour Relations Act,” says the City spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane.

“In the exercise of this fundamental right, those involved are expected to also recognise the rights of those that have elected not to participate in the march and those of our people who need to access municipal services, in particular essential services.”

For those City employees who choose to participate, though, the City will implement its “no work, no pay” policy. All senior managers within the City have been asked to compile statistics of work attendance and absence on 7 March.

Several streets in the inner city will be affected by the strike, which is starting in Beyers Naude Square. President, Rissik, De Korte, De Beer, Smit, Biccard, Simmonds, Fox, Anderson, Sauer and Market streets will all be affected, and people are advised to avoid these streets as far as possible between 10am and 2.30pm.

“The City assures all its customers and residents that effort will be made to minimise disruption of services,” Modingoane says. “Security measures in all council buildings have been put in place to ensure public safety.”