Union may suspend Vodacom strike

By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor

Johannesburg, 24 Jul 2007

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will consult with members today to decide whether strike action against mobile giant Vodacom should be suspended.

The move comes after a joint statement by CWU president Joe Chauke and Vodacom Group CEO Alan Knott-Craig announced an agreement to appoint Charles Nupen, board member of Tokiso Dispute Settlement, as mediator in the matter.

CWU spokesman Mfanafuthi Sithebe says the union should have a decision from members by the close of business today as to whether it will suspend the now three-week industrial action sparked in demand of union recognition at Vodacom.

The Department of Communications was mandated in April to investigate whether the union had reached the 30% threshold required for recognition, as Vodacom maintained it represents only 9.8% of its employees. The outcome of the investigation is yet to be revealed.

In an earlier statement, Dot Field, chief communications officer of the Vodacom Group, said: "Vodacom has recognised the CWU since 1999 and has granted them certain organisational rights despite insufficient representation. Additionally, Vodacom has also had ongoing discussions with them to grant them further rights, despite insufficient representation."

The impasse is about the union's credibility and financial prosperity as opposed to the working conditions of Vodacom employees, she added. "We continue to respect the rights of the union, as well as our employees. Our credibility as a loyal and dedicated South African company requires no further emphasis."

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has backed the CWU strike, saying: "There can be no justification for the employer's stubborn refusal to give CWU full recognition."

Cosatu added that Vodacom is a big, highly-profitable company, and "it has no excuse for not meeting reasonable demands from its workers".