The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is taking Vodacom to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for refusing to recognise the union as a representative labour organisation within the company.
The union argues the cell operator should recognise it, as its membership represents over 30% of the company's total workforce. This implies it meets the threshold guidelines stipulated by the Labour Relations Act. These state that any union wishing to be recognised must have a membership of no less than 30% of the workforce.
"According to our records, Vodacom has a workforce of 2 500 employees. We have 754 members already signed up and 150 are waiting to be processed," says Mfanafuthi Sithebe, CWU spokesman. "Vodacom is dilly-dallying when it comes to setting necessary stop order facilities needed to solidify their membership."
The union, which claims to have been active at Vodacom for five years, also accuses the operator of discouraging employees from joining the CWU. It says Vodacom has set up an alternate representative body, which does not meet workers' needs.
"According to the Constitution of this country, everybody has the right to freedom of association," says Sithebe.
The CCMA hearing will be held next Thursday.
Vodacom was unable to comment by the time of publication.
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