City of Tshwane wins court battle against paying municipal workers’ 2023 salary hikes
The court ruled in favour of the city, rejecting the unions’ demand for a 5.4% wage increase, citing Tshwane’s financial constraints and its formal request for exemption from the collective agreement.
FILE: A City of Tshwane Council meeting. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Tshwane has won its Labour Court battle against paying 2023 salary increases to its municipal workers.
The court ruled in favour of the city, rejecting the unions’ demand for a 5.4% wage increase, citing Tshwane’s financial constraints and its formal request for exemption from the collective agreement.
The case stems from a 2021 dispute, where the South African Local Bargaining Council (SALGBC) had previously ordered the city to implement a 3.5% increase, which it failed to do.
This prompted a compliance order and months of protests in 2023, during which workers disrupted waste collection and halted municipal bus services.
Some city infrastructure was also damaged during the three-month long demonstrations.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink welcomed the Labour Court’s ruling, saying it allows the city to redirect funds toward stabilising finances and improving service delivery.
“It’s clear from this victory that it was worth it to stand our ground to fight for residents, to fight for the idea that the municipality exists to serve residents, not the politicians or folks who work for the municipality”
Brink added that the decision was not intended to punish workers but to prioritise basic service delivery for residents.