Workers of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) continued their picketing action on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The strike entered its third day Wednesday as workers demanded salary increases and bonus pay back-dated to 2014.<\/p>\n
These issues stem from 2014 when the Communications Workers Union (CWU) was part of negotiations regarding restructuring at Icasa.<\/p>\n
But workers felt that they weren\u2019t consulted properly about changes at the regulator and they then ditched the CWU, said the organiser of the strike Suzan Mashinini<\/p>\n
Subsequently, disgruntled workers hired a legal representative and they obtained permission from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to go on strike, Mashinini told Fin24 earlier this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strike is still happening today,\u201d Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka briefly told Fin24 by phone on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Mashinini told Fin24 late on Tuesday that the strike would continue despite her claims that discussions had taken place between a group of workers, management and Icasa counsellors.<\/p>\n
The discussions resulted in an agreement that a task force would study workers\u2019 complaints, said Mashinini.<\/p>\n
But Mashinini said discussions of the task force fell through on Wednesday morning as management allegedly said that they don\u2019t have the mandate to carry out the task force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (management) are not serious about the workers,\u201d Mashinini told Fin24 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strike is still on…we aren\u2019t budging\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Fin24 asked Icasa to confirm whether a meeting about a task forced occurred on Tuesday but the regulator neither confirmed nor denied the said gathering.<\/p>\n
\u201cIcasa is open to communication with staff representatives to ensure that all matters are resolved on an expedited basis,\u201d Paseka Maleka, spokesperson for Icasa, told Fin24.<\/p>\n
Mashinini has further accused Icasa of launching disciplinary action against some workers heading up the strike, including herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIcasa issued a notice to staff last week acknowledging that every employee has a right to strike,\u201d said Maleka.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, it should be noted that Icasa has a duty to service its licensees and clients, as well as to protect the rights of those employees who have decided not to participate in the strike,\u201d added Maleka.<\/p>\n
Icasa also maintained that prior to implementing its policies in 2014, it \u201cconsulted with the representatives of employees in the form of the Communication Workers Union\u201d. Icasa is responsible for regulating the communications and telecommunications sectors in South Africa.<\/p>\n
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