Outcome of the meeting between the City and SAMWU

The City Manager and I today met with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) to listen to their concerns.

The meeting was a constructive engagement to resolve the issues raised by the union regarding their members in the City.

The City undertook to investigate their complaints and report back to them once the investigation is concluded.

For the record, the City does not suspend municipal workers on the basis of their union membership. Suspensions of municipal workers are informed by the code of conduct of municipal workers.

Our records show that since 2011, 14 SAMWU shop stewards were charged and five were dismissed for misconduct.

Each of the suspensions and dismissals involving SAMWU members relate to various forms of misconduct, including fraud and insubordination.

All municipal employees, regardless of their union membership, are subject to the same code of conduct and disciplinary procedures - which if transgressed have similar standard consequences.

Statement issued by Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, May 9 2013

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