Workers reject “retrogressive” Telkom proposal

The Communication Workers Union has rejected Telkom’s Monday proposal to have its members back at work. “Telkom met with the union at the CCMA on Monday after meeting with their principals (the Telkom Board of Directors), only to present a retrogressive and worse off offer than the position that was previously on the table, this relates in particular to the reduction of salary scale adjustments in the second year of the agreement form 60th percentile to a 50th Percentile, while they still maintain their proposed implementation date of salary scale adjustments as 1st October 2009,” said Gallant
Roberts, CWU general secretary.

Telkom further presented a proposal of a five-point rating scale, that future increases and movement within grades be based on performance and competency, and that there should be a differentiated performance reward model for technical and administration staff.

“The union has rejected these backward proposals by the Telkom negotiating team as outrageous and unacceptable.CWU and its members throughout the country will now be embarking on a national “Stay Away” on the 7th August 2009 and on the 11th August 2009. The union is also expected to embark on
a “National March” to the Telkom Head Offices on the 11th August 2009 to submit a memorandum of demands,” Roberts said.

ITNewsAfrica, Johannesburg