CWU & SACU EMBARKS ON A RADICAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION AGAINST TELKOM SA

TOOLS DOWN!!!

Communication Workers Union and the South African Communication Union members have embarked on a radical and unusual protected strike action against Telkom SA. The company was caught by surprise when the two unions gave notice that its members will immediately and totally be withdrawing their labour by embarking on a “National Stay Away” from the 1^st to the 4^th August 2008,…this while the company was expecting the usual build-up strike program, involving “Lunch Hour Demonstration” ; “Go – Slow’s” etc.

NO WEEKEND WORK!!

Our members are expected not to perform work over the weekend of 02 to 03 August 2003.

A number of ± 9000 of CWU & SACU members have supported the “Two Days National Stay Away”, which is only but the first face our industrial action. Our shopstewards have since met in their respective provinces to discuss the second face of our “Strike Action”, and members will be informed by Monday 04 August about the action going forward, in the event that Telkom SA does not reconsider their ridiculous 10.5% salary offer.

In the light of the official pronouncement that inflation rate is now standing at 11.6/%, CWU & SACU leadership and members are more determined to forge ahead with its “Strike Action”

In trying to attract and retain some of its senior management staff members who are currently joining its competitors in numbers, Telkom has sought to entice these senior management members by ballooning their salary packages (not to mention that of its CEO now amounting to 19 million per annum) at the expense of its employees who are faced with devastating socio-economic challenges.       

It is for these reasons amongst others that CWU & SACU members are more agitated to embark on a “Rolling Mass Action”

Our demands therefore remain as follows;

Salary increase

·       An 8,7% increase from 1 January 2008 to 31 March 2008

·       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. 

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% on standby allowance

The company (Telkom) now want to meet CWU & SACU on Sunday 03/08/08 regarding the strike, we anticipate that they will be coming with a revised offer.

SUPPORT FOR THE 06 AUGUST COSATU STRIKE

CWU members will again in their numbers be on the streets of South Africa on the 6^th August 2008 in their respective provinces to “march” against the electricity crisis facing our country and its people. “This will also constitute Another Blow At Telkom”