All developments concerning the strike action will be posted on the website to keep our members updated

This is an extract of the letter sent to the executive of  Employee Relations, TELKOM S.A on 30 July 2008.

You are hereby informed, as per section 64 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 amended to Act 12 of 2002, of  CWU and SACU’s intention to embark on a strike.

Members of CWU and SACU will totally withdraw their labour as from about 07h30, 1 August 2008 up to and including 5 August 06h00. This effectively means that  CWU and SACU  members will resume work on 5 August at 07h30. 

The withdrawal of labour will be effective at all operations and workplaces of TELKOM country wide. It includes all members of the two unions including those that are working any type of shift, including the so called staggered working hours. It should be noted that for the said period no members of the two unions will be on standby and will therefore not respond to any call out.

The Strike relates to TELKOM’s refusal to accept CWU and SACU’s demands as presented  to the company on several occasions including on 28 July 2008 at a meeting held between the parties. The demands relate to the re-opening of the long-term substantive agreement , which was re-opened in terms of clause 3.3 of the said agreement.

The demands are summarized below:

Salary increase

An 8,7% increase from 1 January 2008 to 31 March 2008 as well as an increase of  12,5% effective from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

For workers on M6/S6 grades the above should apply in terms of the ratio of performance and guaranteed increase as per the current long term agreement. The qualifying criteria that must be used for a worker on M6/S6 grade for 100% of the increase, must be Neutral (NTL), Met (M) and Exceed (E) performance ratings.

Gainsharing

An increase of 12, 5% on gainsharing applicable to the table as per clause 6.7 of the agreement.

Medical Aid

An increase of 12, 5 % on the employer contribution on medical aid.

Stand By Allowance

An increase of 12,5% o standby allowance

Please take note that CWU and SACU  members may be picketing inside and outside of the company’s premises. We therefore request that permission be granted to the unions for its members to picket on the company’s premises and/or at such workplaces where the company is doing business from.

Yours faithfully.

By E-mail                                               By E-mail

Gallant Roberts                                    Sulaiman Waggie

CWU General Secretary                       SACU General Secretary

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) supports the calls by our Federation – Cosatu – on the lifestyle audit of public representatives and leaders.

This call should be understood within the context of an embedded and deep-seated Kebble-ism within our movement which hands out largesse in order to secure their own personal accumulation agendas. This has been further advanced through radical articulation of the progressive clauses of the Freedom Charter and offensive targeted at ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe which is being reinforced by the naked class interests of trying to use the ANC and the State for wealth accumulation and crass materialism.