The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has accused mobile operator MTN of lying about the effects of the ongoing strike on its operators.
MTN SA human resources chief Themba Nyati says the company recorded a 97% attendance rate among its staff this morning, with only about "five members" protesting outside its head office in Johannesburg.
However, Nyathi could not say whether this was an indication of the strike winding down, as the union came back with a revised proposal to the company last week - the details of which Nyathi says he cannot immediately comment on.
But, he notes, the company put forward its position last week and will not budge, maintaining its offer is better than what the CWU initially demanded. MTN is offering an 8% guaranteed bonus, half of which was paid in March, with the remaining 4% to be paid in December. A bonus of 12% next year has also been put on the table.
The strike, which started almost two weeks ago, has led to the closure of MTN's call centres and disrupted other services centres, including retail stores and the high-value repair centre. The strike is being led by the CWU, which initially wanted a 10% salary hike, as well as an 8% bonus.
'Stop lying'
CWU president Clyde Mervin says the union is not prepared to publicise the terms of its latest proposal to MTN until it has consulted its members, which it will do today, before meeting with MTN this afternoon.
Meanwhile, he says, the strike will continue in full force across the country, adding MTN should stop lying about the impact of the industrial action. "They must stop lying. Last week, they claimed to have a work attendance of 90%, this week it is 97%. The strike is not winding down, and workers are still fully behind the union in all provinces."
Mervin says customers need only to visit an MTN store to see and feel the impact of the ongoing strike. MTN has, meanwhile, maintained the ongoing strike has had minimal impact on its core operations, which are running optimally.
It also appears both parties have blamed one another for the chaos that erupted during strike action last week.
On Friday, MTN noted with "concern the disruptive conduct of employees who continue to burn tyres on MTN premises, intimidate non-striking employees and barricade the main exits, thus infringing upon the rights of other employees and the company's right to conduct business".
Nyathi confirms MTN has filed charges against a number of union members for assaulting MTN employees who were not taking part in the strike.
Meanwhile, Mervin says the CWU will lay charges against the police for shooting a striking woman in the back of the head with a rubber bullet, at MTN's Fairlands offices on Friday. "This is nothing more than brutality and cowardice. How do you just shoot a woman in the head?"
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