City dragging its feet with workers strike, says municipal union
Municipal workers union Imatu is demanding urgent action from eThekwini to address the grievances of retrenched EPWP workers and offer protection to staff who aren't participating in the strike.
Members of the Expanded Public Works Programme staged protests in Durban this week, halting refuse collection and sweeping services.
They're demanding to be hired by the municipality as permanent staff after they were allegedly told their contracts would no longer be renewed at the end of this month.
Protesters locked the gates of various depots in the city.
READ: Waste collection disrupted in parts of Durban
On Wednesday, at a site in New Germany, a municipal refuse collection truck was stoned.
eThekwini's asked residents to keep their rubbish bags on their properties until further notice.
Imatu's Queen Mbatha has accused the city of dragging its feet on the issue.
ALSO READ: Premier to meet eThekwini officials as EPWP strike continues
"Our members are willing to work but unfortunately can't go out due to the volatile situation. We want eThekwini to take all the necessary steps to ensure the wellbeing and safety of other employees who are not on the strike and are being intimidated.
"The conduct of the city in addressing employees within the EPWP program is of serious concern and needs immediate intervention. The outcry is that it was done abruptly."
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