“The company has contingency measures in place to minimise the potential effect of industrial action.<\/p>\n
“Telkom is still involved in discussions with organised labour and these talks continue today as well,” Meshack Dlamini, Telkom’s executive for employee relations said.<\/p>\n
It was not made clear what the contingency plans were, and it had been claimed the strike could severely hinder internet as well as telephone services.<\/p>\n
Earlier hundreds of employees picketed outside the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offices in Johannesburg where Telkom and the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) were in talks.<\/p>\n
This was part of a two-day stay away by Telkom employees around the country which started on Monday.<\/p>\n
“They have gathered at the CCMA, and workers in Mpumalanga, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are pulling together as well,” CWU spokesman Pheane Ramoadi said.<\/p>\n
Should Telkom fail to reach an agreement with the union before August 11, workers would go on strike.<\/p>\n
Workers want Telkom to adjust salary scales before implementing a 7.5% salary increase.<\/p>\n
The CWU Gauteng members were expected to march to Telkom’s head office in Johannesburg on Tuesday to deliver a memorandum outlining their grievances and demands.<\/p>\n
The union warned Telkom to make “meaningful offers” or face a “serious showdown” as its members would not accept conditional agreements.<\/p>\n
“Our members are still adamant that their salary scales adjustments should precede the 7.5% salary increment and both the adjustment and increment must be implemented retrospectively to April 1 this year.”<\/p>\n
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) came out in support of Telkom employees.<\/p>\n
“The federation sends its solidarity to workers marching to Telkom head office, and to those in other provinces who will be involved in go-slows and overtime bans,” spokesman Patrick Craven said.<\/p>\n
The federation also welcomed the meeting between the CWU and Telkom and urged the employer to make “serious proposals” in response to the union’s demands.<\/p>\n
“Cosatu also shared the CWU’s concern that there should be an equitable distribution of Telkom profits to its employees,” Craven said.<\/p>\n