LETTER: Worse to come in local government as strike nears
09 November 2022 - 17:24
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Nehawu members marching in East London. Picture: MARK ANDREWS/DAILY DISPATCH
It is not news to me that local government is on a downward trajectory (“Local government is spiralling downwards, says Salga”, November 7). It’s also not news that there is a trust deficit; South Africans have lost confidence in local government, other than the municipalities in the Western Cape.
However, we do need to watch this space carefully as matters are about to get a lot worse. We are sitting on the precipice of a large and destructive public service strike that will take bankrupt and dysfunctional municipalities another notch down.
It is now vital for the employment & labour ministry to step in to ensure that the strike is averted or ameliorated. The Labour Relations Act supplies adequate tools to enable the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration (CCMA) to start effective mediation immediately.
Now is the time to do this, unlike what has happened in the past. Our narcoleptic employment & labour minister somehow only wakes up when the destruction has already taken place.
Michael Bagraim, MP DA shadow deputy employment & labour minister
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Worse to come in local government as strike nears
It is not news to me that local government is on a downward trajectory (“Local government is spiralling downwards, says Salga”, November 7). It’s also not news that there is a trust deficit; South Africans have lost confidence in local government, other than the municipalities in the Western Cape.
However, we do need to watch this space carefully as matters are about to get a lot worse. We are sitting on the precipice of a large and destructive public service strike that will take bankrupt and dysfunctional municipalities another notch down.
It is now vital for the employment & labour ministry to step in to ensure that the strike is averted or ameliorated. The Labour Relations Act supplies adequate tools to enable the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration (CCMA) to start effective mediation immediately.
Now is the time to do this, unlike what has happened in the past. Our narcoleptic employment & labour minister somehow only wakes up when the destruction has already taken place.
Michael Bagraim, MP
DA shadow deputy employment & labour minister
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Government plays down looming public sector strike
Public sector wage strike looms after conciliation talks collapse
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
JOHN DLUDLU: Now, can we talk about service delivery operations?
Godongwana says 3% public wage increase in best interest of fiscus
Cosatu unions revert to initial 10% pay hike demand
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.