EMPD officers who participated in unprotected strike retain their jobs
On Wednesday, the Municipal Employees and Civil Servant Union (MECSU) announced that after engaging the City of Ekurhuleni, it managed to get pre-dismissal letters withdrawn.
EMPD officers calling for the metro to adjust their salaries and pay out benefits owed to them. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - About 300 Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officers have retained their jobs after facing possible dismissal for participating in an unprotected strike in March.
The metro officers were calling for salary adjustments, overtime pay and night allowance.
On Wednesday, the Municipal Employees and Civil Servant Union (MECSU) announced that after engaging the City of Ekurhuleni, it managed to get pre-dismissal letters withdrawn.
When the City of Ekurhuleni served the protesting metro officers with the pre-dismissal letters, they were given a chance to explain why they should not be dismissed.
The city expressed dissatisfaction that the officers, who are considered essential workers, caused disruptions on the road, took part in an unprotected strike and abandoned their duties of protecting communities.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, MECSU general secretary Vukile Mlungwana said the pre-dismissal letters were the wrong course of action.
"It was not necessary for the executive mayor of the city to get involved in human resources management of the city and interrupt the services of EMPD."
He said that while they were happy about the letters being withdrawn, they still wanted their demands to be met.