Samwu initiates mass campaign

2012-07-05 17:26

SA Municipal Workers Union members march in Cape Town The union wants the city to hire more workers for municipal services. (Nardus Engelbrecht, Sapa)

Dane McDonald, News24

Cape Town - The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has initiated a campaign which aims to mobilise the poor against lack of service delivery and the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).

A City of Cape Town police official confirmed that the march was attended by approximately 300 people.

Secretary of Samwu, Mario Jacobs, said it took two days to organise the protest.

"In the future we plan to involve more organisations and will bring thousands of people to take part," he told News24.

Samwu was joined by the Housing Assembly, which is yet to be launched formally, and represents backyard dwellers and people living in informal housing.

The union handed over its memorandum to the deputy city manager, Mike Marsden.

The memorandum outlines Samwu's dissatisfaction with the city's Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Jacobs said workers are given contracts for between one and four months and once completed, disqualifies employees from work prospects for the next five years.

Samwu called for jobs with a "reasonable duration and allow for training and access to opportunities within the sector".

Willem Links, an EPWP worker, had his contract terminated three weeks ago. He is not a union member but joined the march in the hope that the city would hear his pleas and provide permanent jobs.

"We are treated like we are not human beings," he told News24.

Marsden said the city is doing everything in its power to address the employment challenges.