NEWS FLASH – EXEMPTION APPLICATION FROM SALARY AND WAGE AGREEMENT KHEIS LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
IMATU Northern Cape Region
We refer to the abovementioned matter.
The Kheis Local Municipality has formally filed its application for exemption from its obligation to implement the provisions applicable to the first year of the salary and wage collective agreement.
IMATU has secured the service of an Advocate to represent IMATU in the opposition of the Kheis Local Municipality’s application before the SALGBC exemption committee.
The onus will be on the Kheis Local Municipality to prove that they cannot afford the salary and wage collective agreement for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. In our opinion the salary and wage collective agreement is very fair in terms of salary increases.
As IMATU we are perturbed in the approach of the Kheis Local Municipality to apply for exemption in these very difficult times and where members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown levels never refused to assist with service delivery. The employer is sending a clear message to employees that their commitment to service delivery is not appreciated at all.
It is unfortunate that the exemption process will take some time to be finalised, we have however received a date for the exemption hearing and where it will be heard on 23 November 2021 via Zoom.
IMATU and the other union are however bound by the terms of the Salary and Wage Collective Agreement and where the agreement does contain a clause that allows a party to apply for exemption, the only remedy to IMATU is to oppose the application which we have done.
However, should the Kheis Local Municipality’s application be dismissed, the salary and wage increases will be backdated.
IMATU WILL DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO OPPOSE THE EXEMPTION APPLICATION.
