Johannesburg, 30 Mar 2006
Negotiations between Telkom and the two striking unions hit a hurdle yesterday when one workers` union threatened to take the dispute to the labour court.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has threatened to take legal action against Telkom should it continue with its plans to implement the revised wage offer it made to all three workers` unions on the 24 March.
The revised offer was to be implemented on behalf of non-union members and members of the South African Communications Union, who had accepted it.
Telkom withdrew the offer to Solidarity and the CWU on Monday 27 March, because the two unions went ahead with a protest march in Pretoria.
In a letter to Telkom, CWU proposed an urgent meeting to negotiate a process of resolving the negotiation dispute.
Division
Solidarity initially backed CWU in their threat to apply for an urgent interdict against Telkom. Solidarity`s deputy secretary general Dirk Hermann said it was illegal for Telkom to implement differing wage schemes for employees doing the same job at the same level of skill.
However, this morning Solidarity said it would no longer apply for an urgent interdict as the fixed line operator has reinstated the revised wage offer.
"The interdict is no longer necessary, as Telkom has reinstated its revised offer and we have something to talk about," said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.
A Telkom spokesperson would not confirm whether Telkom had reinstated its revised offer to the unions. However, a letter to the CWU dated 29 March states the company had indeed done so.
The CWU was still planning to lodge an interdict against Telkom today, said Mfanafuthi Sithebe, head of communications at CWU. A letter to provincial representatives of CWU indicates the union would continue to apply pressure. Activities would include an overtime ban on 3 to 5 April, workplace protest and picketing on 6 and 7 April and mobilisation of communities on 8 April.
Solidarity says it will suspend strike action in order to facilitate negotiation with Telkom. Kleynhans also notes the two unions would continue to liaise even if they follow different strategies regarding court action against Telkom.
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