WAGE demands by the Commercial Workers Union threaten to drive Telkom’s salary bill up by R1-billion this year, if approved. Sake Beeld reports that the CWU is insisting on a 16% increase and considerable improvements to its supplementary benefits. Telkom has offered its approximately 60000 workers a 2,5% raise, with a 3% production bonus, if certain reduction targets are met this year. The other three trade unions — the Mine Workers Union, the South African Telecommunications Workers Union and the Postal and Telegraph Union – have demanded a 10% raise which, Telkom says, will inflate its salary account by R400-million.