SOUTH African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members embarked on a strike on Monday, 6 May, outside the Rustenburg Local Municipality premises.
The angry workers sang, chanted revolutionary songs, and vowed to sit outside the municipal building every day for two months.
The workers told Daily Sun they won't back down until all their demands are met.
They're demanding the implementation of a proper grading system for municipal workers.
They demand to be paid grade seven salaries with immediate effect and backdated to the year the grading was supposed to be implemented.
Samwu provincial secretary Vincent Diphoko said workers are currently paid grade five salaries while the categorisation of the municipality is at grade seven.
"We're here because we demand that workers be moved to grade seven."
He said the strike was legal.
However, Vincent said they would down tools till the employer met their demands.
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He threatened to involve the national government to fight for workers' rights if the demands were not met within two months.
One of the workers, Lebogang Modise said it was clear the municipality was refusing to implement it.
"It shows that workers are undermined."
Lebogang alleged that senior management was paid according to the grade seven category while councillors were in grade six and workers in grade five.
“It’s the unfairness that has led to the situation we're in. Workers are uncontrollably angry. It’s been years since workers have been pleading, but nothing has happened.”
Lebogang believes the implementation was delayed due to political issues.
Another worker, Velamina Mosome said workers were angry and frustrated.
She said the cost of living is high, and their salary can’t sustain them. Velamina said the employer must understand their frustration.
She said she’s been a worker at the municipality for 10 years.
“We're only fighting for our rights and are having a peaceful protest.
“It's been too long. Workers can’t continue to act as if things are run accordingly when they are not," she said.
Rustenburg Local Municipality Mayor Sheila Mabale-Huma accepted the memorandum of demands.
She assured the workers that they would review it and respond.
