Court orders City of Tshwane to return 2021 wage negotiations to bargaining table
While the 2021 increase was approved by the local bargaining council, the city failed to implement it.
FILE: The City of Tshwane on 20 November 2024 hosted an oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Picture: @CityTshwane/X
JOHANNESBURG - The Labour Court has ruled against implementing a 2023 salary increase for Tshwane municipal workers but has ordered that stalled 2021 wage negotiations return to the bargaining table.
The workers unions’ had demanded a 5.4% increase in 2023, and a 3.5% raise in 2021.
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While the 2021 increase was approved by the local bargaining council, the city failed to implement it.
The dispute sparked a three-month-long strike in 2023, which severely disrupted municipal services and turned violent, with infrastructure and vehicles set alight during protests.
Tshwane Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader Cilliers Brink said the city’s decision not to pay the 2023 increase was made to protect its financial stability.
“The decision not to pay salaries in 2023 was a difficult one - not made to punish employees but rather to place the city in a financial position where we can again deliver value for ratepayers’ money.”