Solidarity still hopeful

By Candice Jones for Telkom
Johannesburg, 16 Nov 2007

Solidarity is hopeful the new round of talks with Telkom will result in a wage increase for employees by 1 January.

This follows prolonged negotiations with the fixed-line utility, which included an unsuccessful intervention by the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on behalf of the union.

"The trade union earlier asked for the resumption of negotiations and Telkom acceded to the request today. This means Telkom employees may receive a welcome additional increase," says Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans.

The union declared the dispute in August, to oppose Telkom`s interpretation of the substantive collective agreement signed in April 2006. The contract guaranteed union members, in Telkom`s employ, an average salary increase of 6.5% for 2007.

More assurance

According to Kleynhans, the terms of the agreement stated that negotiations had to be re-opened in case of a 3% increase or decrease in the consumer price index (CPIX), between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008, or in case of rates increases, or market shifts.

"Since such increases indeed occurred since April, the negotiations are to be resumed."

He says negotiations will begin on 7 December and must be concluded by 15 December. "Solidarity and the Communication Workers Union will act jointly as the coalition trade union in the matter."

Telkom has given Solidarity its assurance that the inception of the Coalition Trade Union and the dispute relating to the interpretation of the wage agreement will be tackled simultaneously with the wage negotiations, states Kleynhans.

The pending wage negotiations may bring relief to Telkom employees from the financial pressures brought about by the inflation rate over the past few months, notes Solidarity.