Wage negotiations between Telkom management and two trade unions reached a deadlock on Sunday, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said.<\/p>\n
The current stayaway will continue as planned, CWU secretary-general Gallant Roberts said.<\/p>\n
This comes after trade unions, CWU and the SA Communications Union (SACU) rejected Telkom management’s revised salary increment offer of 11% from the previous 10.5%, Roberts said.<\/p>\n
"CWU and SACU welcomed the revised offer from Telkom…but will not accept anything below the inflation rate which was at 11.6%," Roberts said.<\/p>\n
The 11% salary increase would be effective from April 1, 2008 to March 31 , 2009, a further 0.5% would be effective from October 1, 2008 to March 31 the following year, Roberts said.<\/p>\n
However at the meeting Telkom agreed to review the "gainsharing" calculations formula, he said.<\/p>\n
"Management also agreed that the revised offer would be extended to Telkom’s contribution on medical aid and the standby allowance," Roberts said.<\/p>\n
The two-days stayaway would also be converted to vacation leave instead of applying the "no work no pay" rule, said Roberts.<\/p>\n
Talks between the two trade unions and management were expected to resume on Thursday, August 7, said Roberts.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, CWU members were also expected to embark on a national stayaway on Wednesday August 6, he said. <\/p>\n
"The stayaway will form part of Cosatu’s national strike action against the electricity crisis affecting the country," Roberts said.<\/p>\n