TELKOM’S SUNDAY TALKS FAILS  – CWU & SACU MAY INTENSIFY THE STRIKE

At 12h00 today (03/08/08) Telkom SA met with Communication Workers Union and the South African Communication Union’s negotiators at their (Telkom’s) request.

As anticipated by the unions, the company presented a revised salary increment offer,

moving from their initial 10.5% to;

(i)                11% salary increase, effective from the 1^st April 2008 to 31^st March 2009, and a further 0.5% effective from the 1^st October 2008 to the 31^st March 2009

(ii)               Telkom further agreed that the revised offer will be extended to the company’s contribution on medical aid and the stand-by allowance.

(iii)             The company also made a commitment to review the current “Gainsharing” calculations formula with the unions during the forthcoming substantive negotiations.

(iv)            Telkom also offered to convert the two days on which CWU & SACU members will be on “Stay Away”, (01/08/08 & 04/08/08) to vacation leave instead of applying the “No Work No Pay” rule. 

CWU & SACU welcomed the revised offer from Telkom, but sharply criticized the company negotiators for deliberately ignoring the fact that the unions would not accept anything below inflation rate, which is now at 11.6%. 

The two unions have however considered the new Telkom offer of 11% and later 0.5%, which inclusively constitute 11.5%,  and therefore presented the following revised demands;

• 11.6% on salary increment, effective from the 1^st April 2008 to the 31^st March 2009
• 11.6% employer contribution on medical aid, effective from the 1^st April 2008 to the 31^st March 2009
• An additional 1% on salary increment effective from the 1^st October 2008 to the 31^st March 2009

The Sunday negotiations did unfortunately not produce a positive outcome, and the deadlock therefore remains. CWU & SACU requested time to consider and consult with their members and structures, and that parties resume engagements on Thursday 07^th August 2008. In the event that our members retain the above revised union demands, CWU & SACU will have no option but to considering the next form of action/s to exert more pressure on the employer to accede to the union’s demands. 

The current stay away will continue as planned, …this meaning that CWU & SACU members will not report for work on Monday 04/08/2008.

CWU members country-wide will also embark on a national “Stay Away” from work on the 6^th August 2008 as part of COSATU’s national strike action on the electricity crisis effecting our country.  

ALUTA CONTINUA!!!