ATTENTION KOPANONG MUNICIPALITY MEMBERS AND SHOP STEWARDS!

As part of the Free State Presidential Tour, the IMATU President: Stanley Khoza, Deputy President: Keith Swanepoel, Free State Regional Manager: Paul Greyling and shop stewards met with the Acting Municipal Manager, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Councillor of the Kopanong Municipality.

Amongst a number of matters discussed, IMATU raised the serious concern of third party deductions and the need for the municipality to ensure that our member’s deductions are timeously paid over to relevant service providers to avoid any lapses in medical cover, pension contributions and insurance.  

As a result of this meeting the Municipality has undertaken the following:

1. IMATU must be sent proof of up-to-date medical aid contributions, specifically addressing members’ concerns relating to the arrears from the past three months.

2. A request will be made directly to SALGA to include IMATU representatives at the upcoming meeting on 12 April 2019 to discuss pension funds.

3. IMATU has agreed that members are willing to return to work however, due to current safety concerns and restricted access to the work place this is not immediately possible. Until the safety of our members can be guaranteed, members in each town are required to identify a central meeting point for all employees to meet each morning, in order to sign the daily attendance register. After signing the register each day, members will return home until it is safe to resume their duties.

4. Members are responsible for ensuring that they sign the daily attendance register, this list is sent directly to Christiaan, who will then send on to Denise. Employees who do not sign the attendance register will unfortunately be subjected to the ‘No Work No Pay’ principle.

5. IMATU shop stewards have given their undertaking that IMATU members are not on strike and have fought hard to ensure that our members’ March 2019 salaries are not affected by the ‘No Work No Pay’ principle. From 1 April 2019 members who fail to comply with the signing of the attendance register will be subject to ‘No Work No Pay’.

* Essential services members are please reminded that by indicating that you are willing to work, you are required to assist should the municipality call on you to help the community.

6. The municipality has confirmed that March salaries were paid.

7. Each town that does not have an elected shop steward must please elect a shop steward as per agreement with the acting Municipal Manager. When members meet in their respective towns to sign the attendance register, those still needing a shop steward representative are requested to please elect a shop steward as soon as possible. The elected shop steward is requested to personally ensure that his/her contact details are sent to Ms Denise Retsinas on 082 443 3725.

8. Members must indicate to their shop stewards which different third party funds they belong to. After compiling a list, shop stewards are requested to send this through to Ms Retsinas. IMATU is in the process of drawing up a mandate form that will be used to get the required information from the different funds.

9. All current and newly elected shop stewards in the affected towns are requested to please send through your details to Ms Denise Retsinas on 082 443 3725 (name, surname, town/branch and contact details).

10. The IMATU shop stewards, officials and staff are congratulated for their efforts thus far. The dedication of your elected representatives has ensured that this situation is being resolved in as soon as possible with limited impact to members. The wellbeing and protection of our members is of paramount concern. They will continue to work towards the swift resolution of these problems but need your support to ensure success.

Thank you to the shop stewards for providing leadership and our members for their support. IMATU is working together for you!