About 11 000 workers in the Ethekwini municipal structures are set to join their colleagues countrywide and down tools on Tuesday in a national strike over pay demands.
Strike action could bring Durban municipal operations to a halt. And concerns have been raised that the week-long African Union (AU) summit, which starts in Durban next Tuesday, could be disrupted.
"We support the idea of the AU, but in terms of our own struggle for a better lifestyle, we will go on strike until such time that our demands are met," Richard Hlophe, secretary of the SA Municipal Workers' Union, said on Monday night.
The SA Local Government Association has offered an eight percent wage increase. The SA Municipal Workers' Union is demanding a 10 percent hike. The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union is not participating in the proposed strike action.
Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba said he hoped that the strike would not involve essential service employees in the city's health, fire and police departments.
Hlophe said every employee would be roped in for the strike, but his union would consider letting a small number of police officers man the AU summit
"During the strike, some of our placards will indicate our support for the AU. Our members need to make a living, and the world must see that South Africa has a strong union."
Mlaba said that negotiations would continue in an attempt to avert any strike action that would disrupt the smooth running of the AU summit and the city's general services.
Mlaba added that the AU was a great opportunity for Durban, in terms of tourism opportunities. It was also a tool to "sensitise communities on the importance of economic development which is the cornerstone of the AU".