BCM workers to receive thousands each in backpay

• Vacant funded posts are expected to generate about R44million for the 2015 financial year and R100-million annually from July 1 to June 30 next year, except for critical posts;
• General expenses to be reduced by an average of 8% on the 2016-17 adjustment budget, which is expected to generate about R60-million;
• The scarce skills allowance and additional responsibility allowances would need to undergo a policy review and;
• Overtime would have to be reduced by 50%.

Acting city manager Bob Naidoo’s report read that funding for the backpay would be sourced from existing cash resources, but only temporarily.

“However, the funding of this needs to be done by future tariff impacts.

“It is envisaged that the return will be performed over a five-year period, suggesting the operating budget would need to have a surplus of R40-million per year over the next five years.”

Samwu BCM regional secretary Zolani Ndlela said: “We welcome the council resolution as Samwu although it is not what we initially wanted.

“We wanted to be on the same level as our colleagues in the Nelson Mandela Metro. We demanded the backpay should be R114 000, but we reached a compromise because we also did not want to bankrupt the metro.”

The DA, COPE and ACDP also welcomed the resolution.