Stun grenades were reportedly fired on the corner of Rissik Street in Joburg’s CBD as striking Pikitup workers clashed with the JMPD and SAPS.
|||Johannesburg – The national office of the Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) on Friday urged its regional leadership to allow its members at Johannesburg’s waste management entity, Pikitup, to return to work immediately.
Since going on strike over salary increments, Pikitup workers have caused havoc in the city centre by trashing rubbish cans all over the roads.
On Friday afternoon, there were reports of clashes between Pikitup workers who were on strike and members of South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) on Rissik street in central Johannesburg, resulting in stun grenades being fired to disperse them.
One injury was reported initially, that of a woman who had apparently been hit by a rubber bullet, and she was taken to a nearby medical facility.
Samwu’s regional deputy secretary, Paul Tlhabang, was not immediately available for comment.
The illegal strike by Pikitup workers entered its third day on Friday, despite the company issuing an ultimatum to workers to return to their posts by Thursday noon.
A statement issued on behalf of Samwu’s national office bearers said the trade union had engaged the regional leadership which was currently leading the protest action.
“We have further taken steps to ensure that our members’ legitimate grievances are addressed and such we will be meeting with Pikitup management in a bid to resolve the impasse.
“Therefore urge our members at Pikitup to return to work so to allow this process to unfold. Our members should return to work as early as the next shift begins,” said Samwu.
African News Agency
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