The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will down tools at the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) tomorrow over a wage dispute.
The union argues that the authority unilaterally implemented a wage increase of 5% in December and, despite negotiations, the situation has deadlocked.
National co-ordinator Vulture Ntuluki says about 250 of its members - more than half ICASA's workforce - are set to down tools tomorrow over the issue.
ICASA is seeking clarity as to whether the industrial action will be limited to tomorrow or continue indefinitely. It has indicated it will not tolerate violence.
CWU's initial demand was 11%, but the union was prepared to negotiate this figure, says Ntuluki. However, ICASA says the union is maintaining its position that it wants an 11% increase, in addition to housing and cellphone allowances and other demands.
ICASA says it has already increased its initial 5% offer, which will put it over budget for the year and affect its ability to fill vacant positions.
The regulator offered all employees under the bargaining unit 5% salary increases in December 2011. It has since proposed an “additional 3% on a proportional basis to be granted on a sliding scale across the board”.
ICASA says staff at the bottom rung of the salary scale have been offered a maximum 8% salary increase, while the proposal for top-level earners is 6.5%.
The improved offer amounts to an additional salary bill of R16 million for the 2012 financial year, says ICASA. It says the 8% increase “exceeds the current budget allocation for salaries for the new financial year by R1.3 million”.
As a result, ICASA will have to “reduce the costs for filling existing vacant positions by 50%,” it says.
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