TELECOMS services for the Fifa Confederations Cup could be affected if a planned Communication Workers’ Union strike against Telkom takes place in three weeks.<\/p>\n
No agreement was reached at the last meeting on May 27 between the parastatal and the three unions involved in wage negotiations — CWU, Solidarity and South African Communications’ Union.<\/p>\n
Unions initially demanded a 16 percent increase on basic salary, but reduced the demand to 13 percent. The company is offering up to 7.5 percent.<\/p>\n
Richard Poulton, leader of the CWU negotiating team, said: “The reality is that Telkom did not improve on its offer from the very first meeting. They stood steadfast at their budgeted amount of a 7.5 percent increase on their current wage bill.”<\/p>\n
The union is worried that a strike action by its members employed at Telkom will negatively affect the Confederations Cup.<\/p>\n
CWU members working at Telkom, SABC and Sentech will be involved in the provision of information communications technology services such as broadcasting to the Confederations Cup.<\/p>\n