Trade unionists have given South Africa’s top telecommunications companies two weeks to address the issue of reduced benefit packages for retired workers and other grievances or face “total shutdown” industrial action.
Among other demands of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) sent to Telkom, Vodacom and South African Post Office (Sapo) is outsourcing which the union claims is cutting jobs.
CWU Chairman for Gauteng Aubrey Tshabalala said the union would host its General Shop Stewards Council following the dispute on substantive negotiations at Sapo and Telkom SA.
“As CWU in Gauteng, we consider what has been tabled at the negotiations by Sapo and Telkom SA an insult, and we note that there are allegations of corruption in the ICT sector in general. As Gauteng we’re calling for a total shutdown (strike) at Sapo; Telkom and subsidiary companies of Vodacom should address our demands by end of this week,” said Tshabalala.
He said the looming strike would include Vodacom SA subsidiary companies arguing that there was reduction of benefits for workers as a result of outsourcing of some departments in Vodacom.
“Our members are ready to go on the streets and it will be one of the biggest industrial actions ever experienced in the industry.To us one job lost is one too many,” said Tshabalala.
About 6 000 workers were either retired or persuaded to go on retirement by Telkom and Vodacom with the unions accusing outsourcing as the root cause of job losses.
Tintswalo Baloyi
