City+of+Cape+Town+interdicted+against+disciplining+107+Cops,+SAMWU


 * SAMWU Media Release, 13 February 2008 **

=**Zille down**=

=//**City of Cape Town interdicted against disciplining 107 Metro Cops**//=

CAPE TOWN - In a major victory for SAMWU, the Labour Court has handed down a final interdict against the City of Cape Town. The Labour Court also ordered the City to pay costs. The interdict permanently prevents the City from proceeding with their plan to discipline Metro Police members en-masse, without affording each the right to a fair hearing. The Labour Court ruling was simple and clear: The City may not proceed with any disciplinaries of the Metro Police members unless the disciplinary process is in line with the Disciplinary Agreement reached in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. The ruling is also a victory for collective bargaining. The City of Cape Town is a member of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and is a signatory to agreements reached at the Bargaining Council, yet it commonly flouts those same agreements, as if it is a law unto itself. The 107 Metro Police's only alleged "crime" was participation in a peaceful protest several months ago. Should the City still wish to discipline them, it would have to allow each worker a fair hearing and the right to argue in their defence. The DA City has wasted a lot of public money on hiring hugely expensive lawyers to fight this frivolous case, which it knew from the start it had no chance of winning. The City has also kept 107 Metro Police officers off the beat for several months, again for no reason. They have only done this to protect the ego of Helen Zille, who was furious at being delayed in traffic during the peaceful Metro Police protest, and allegedly vowed on the spot to dismiss the protesting police. It is clear that Helen Zille's ego has cost the public an immense amount in terms of money and loss of police protection.
 * For further comment call Organiser Mario Jacobs or Provincial Secretary Andre Adams**

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