CWU accepts Telkom wage offer

By Damaria Senne for Telkom
Johannesburg, 26 Apr 2006

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has confirmed it has reached a wage agreement with Telkom.

This ends weeks of disputes regarding the fixed-line operator`s employee remuneration and profit-sharing scheme. This included a protest march, and threats of legal and industrial action by CWU members, eventually culminating in the lockout of CWU members by Telkom.

Mfanafuthi Sithebe, head of communications at CWU, confirms the union will meet with Telkom today to finalise the agreement.

"We are fine-tuning a few things; only then will we be able to reveal further details," says Sithebe.

The parties will issue a joint statement detailing the contents of the agreement, he says.

A Telkom spokesperson could not confirm whether an agreement has been reached, but said talks with CWU continue. He was also unable to confirm whether Telkom has made a new wage and bonus payment offer.

"We are all hoping that an agreement will be reached and the situation resolved, as that would be in the interests of the workers," the spokesperson says.

In its memorandum of demands, CWU demanded a minimum salary of R5 300 for all members, a 100% medical aid contribution from the employer for life and a housing subsidy of R1 350 a month across the board.

Trade unions Solidarity and South African Communications Union, which also represent Telkom workers, signed an earlier wage offer made by Telkom.