CWU, Vodacom face off again

By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor

Johannesburg, 14 Aug 2007

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims Vodacom suspended 23 union members who are accused of misconduct during the recent industrial action at the company.

Vodacom confirms action has been taken against several employees; however, the numbers are still unclear. The company says it has a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. "As such, a number of employees have been suspended on full pay until disciplinary hearings have been concluded."

In addition, the company says the state prosecutor has issued warrants of arrest for certain individuals who contravened the court order during the strike.

"The members were suspended because firstly they violated the picketing rules and secondly they displayed aggressive behaviour towards other employees and members of the public," it notes.

"The arrest warrants have been issued because employees violated the interdict implemented by the Labour Court preventing union members from marching on the Vodacom premises."

The dispute stems from protest action, which began in February, against Vodacom's non-recognition of the union as a representative body. The parties reached an agreement only two weeks ago.

Numbers game

A letter to Vodacom CEO Alan Knott-Craig from Neil Anderson, head of telecommunications at Union Network International (UNI), which represents several unions internationally, lists the number of suspended employees at 13. However, union spokesman Mfanafuthi Sithebe says the additional 10 alleged suspensions occurred after the letter was sent.

According to Sithebe: "These loyal members did not engage in any misconduct during the strike action, except to be told that they have crossed the agreed-upon picketing line."

The CWU has called on Vodacom to immediately withdraw all criminal charges against the accused. It also requested the company to lift the suspension of its members, which Sithebe says resulted in them being arrested by the South African Police Service.

The UNI has made similar demands, stating CWU members should be immediately reinstated without any form of penalty. It also insists the "company starts to bargain seriously and meaningfully with the CWU".

Sithebe says union members complained about the behaviour of Vodacom security personnel and the risk management services during the strike action. "Unfortunately, our complaints were not attended to by the intransigent and myopic management."

Neither the union nor Vodacom have indicated whether they will meet to discuss the issue.