By Nangamso Mabindla
7 July 2005

PLANS are already in place to ensure minimal disruption to services during a planned municipal workers strike on 12 July. This is according to the Buffalo City Municipality.

Disruptions would be limited, said Mamnkeli Ngam, the City's acting communications manager. Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Workers Union are to go on strike.

"Our employees who are engaged in essential services will be compelled to comply with the terms of an agreement pertaining to essential services. [Such] an agreement ensures minimum manning levels during any strike action," he said.

Local government employees affiliated to the unions plan to strike on Tuesday following a deadlock over wage negotiations. The unions are demanding a 9 percent increase across the board; the South African Local Government Association is offering 6 percent.

Ngam said the unions and staff were reminded of the terms of the essential service agreement and the picketing agreement.

That means that staff from the City's ambulances, law enforcement, fire and disaster management units will be on duty during the strike.

"It should be stressed that if replacement labour is required for any other purpose to ensure continuity of services, this may occur depending on the circumstances and need," Ngam said.

City management had explained the law to employees in the essential services. "We wanted them to remember that we are about delivering services to our customers and the law does not allow people in important positions to go on strike," Ngam explained.

The City also would ensure that employees who were prepared to work on the day of the strike would be able to do so unhindered. "Unions and employees have been reminded that no misconduct of any nature will be tolerated during the strike."