At the request of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), CUPE has weighed in to the debate in Johannesburg about restructuring municipal services.
In a statement that earned lots of media attention in South Africa, CUPE warned that privatization and restructuring schemes won’t benefit the citizens of the country’s largest city.
“The Canadian experience is that implementation of these types of programs are really just a smokescreen for job cuts and service reductions,” said National President Judy Darcy.
She cautioned municipal politicians in Johannesburg not to make the same mistakes and urged the Johannesburg council to consider SAMWU’s plan to pursue public financing rather than selling off assets.
Darcy will be meeting with SAMWU officials this spring to work out ways that the two unions can support each other by sharing information on the impact of restructured services on communities and municipal workers.