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MTN staff continue to strike

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 25 May 2015
MTN call centre workers want an 8% salary increase.
MTN call centre workers want an 8% salary increase.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has vowed to continue strike action at MTN's call centre until all its demands are met.

Around 3 000 CWU members downed tools outside MTN's Johannesburg head office last Wednesday after a call centre staff dispute over bonuses turned into a broader quarrel with the company about salary increases and weekend work.

CWU members initially demanded a 10% salary increase, as well as a 16% bonus pay-out. CWU president Clyde Mervin says the union has since revised its demands to an 8% salary hike and 12% bonus.

The union has three outstanding issues, which include the salary increase, a bonus payment and recognition of the union, says Mervin. MTN has already put a 12% bonus offer on the table.

Last week, MTN said it had reviewed some issues with a view to reaching an amicable and speedy solution to the impasse. This includes reviewing the current bonus model, which makes provision for an additional guaranteed 4% annual salary at the end of 2015 and a guaranteed 8.33% in March 2016 and every year thereafter.

MTN has also reinstated canteen subsidies, which have been increased in response to employee feedback. The data limit for employees was reviewed and increased in line with personal usage. An extra SIM card was added to be used by any person of choice nominated by staff, says the company.

Mervin says the union understands MTN is set to respond to its demands today.

Talks continue

MTN's chief human resources officer, Themba Nyathi, says the operator will send a letter to the union this afternoon to deal with its demands. He notes if the impasse continues, MTN will consider bringing in an external mediator.

Nyathi adds the operator will audit CWU's members and, should it meet the statutory threshold, it will be recognised. However, he notes many of CWU's members are not employed directly by MTN, but rather by outsourced providers, and do not count towards recognition.

For a union to be recognised at MTN, it needs 30% of the staff to join it, and the CWU had 19% last week.

Nyathi notes the operator's call centre has been most affected, and is not currently fully staffed.

Meanwhile, MTN SA CIO Neil Tomkinson says the company has shut down its e-billing portal following reports of a security breach. He says the portal will remain offline until the security concerns are addressed, and new and improved security features are implemented.

"We are strengthening this platform with the latest fool-proof security features to ensure this does not recur in the future. In the interim, our customers will receive their bills on e-mail."

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