COSATU KZN decries Ray Nkonyeni Municipality stalemate affecting workers’ salaries

Staff Reporter

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed deep concern over the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s failure to resolve an ongoing impasse affecting workers’ salaries and municipal operations.

COSATU KZN Provincial Secretary Edwin Mkhize said on Friday that the dispute dates back to the 2016 amalgamation of the Hibiscus Coast and Ezinqoleni Municipalities, which elevated the municipality’s grading from Grade 4 to Grade 5.

In 2021, salary scales for senior management, heads of departments (HODs), and the municipal manager were adjusted to align with Grade 5. By 2023, councilors’ salaries were also upgraded, including back pay.

However, Mkhize noted that efforts to harmonise workers’ salaries post-amalgamation have faced delays.

“A process to align workers’ salaries with the Grade 5 categorisation was initiated, but many workers are still paid at differing levels,” he said.

Arbitration ruled that workers should be placed at Category Level 5 and