Telkom strike continues

By Candice Jones for Telkom
Johannesburg, 25 May 2007

The strike by Solidarity trade union members has had minimal impact on Telkom`s Maritime Radio Services, in Cape Town, says Meshack Dlamini, Telkom`s executive for employee relations.

"Contingency measures were put in place to ensure all essential distress watch-keeping services and the broadcasting of navigational, weather and safety information via all our radio channels and systems continue," says Dlamini.

While the company refuses to elaborate on what these measures are, it reiterates that operations at Cape Town Radio have only been minimally affected.

The strike is intended to oppose an amended duty roster compiled by Telkom, which was implemented in 2006. The roster affects employees` benefits and remuneration.

The company says the strike action is unwarranted. "Telkom wants to correct the perception that the shift roster was unilaterally implemented," says Dlamini. "In fact, when the company was ready to implement its policy at Cape Radio, it started consultations with the affected employees in May 2006."

He adds that employees at Cape Radio were given the opportunity to influence the process.

However, Kleynhans says Telkom did not consult the union with the changes. "They spoke to us after the change on 9October, but the modifications had already been made."

He adds the changes were in contradiction of an agreement made in 2003 between the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and what was known at the time as the Alliance of Telkom Unions (of which Solidarity was a member).

However, Telkom says the company`s "hours of work policy", cited by Solidarity as a reason for the industrial action, is not a new policy and is in line with the country`s labour regulations.

CCMA intervention

Kleynhans says Solidarity was approached by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to intervene in the strike at Cape Radio.

"They have offered to act as a mediator in talks between the two parties," says Kleynhans. "We are committed to any attempt to resolve the dispute. The sooner the strike ends, the better for all concerned. We trust the company will adopt the same approach and will also agree to CCMA intervention."

It is still unclear whether Telkom has accepted the CCMA offer. Both Solidarity and Telkom have indicated a commitment to resolving the issue through negotiations. However, Kleynhans says with no indication of negotiation attempts, members will continue to strike.