OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Monday 12.30pm
TELKOM said on Monday afternoon that an estimated 10000 of its workers have observed the strike and stayed away from work.
Telkom spokeswoman Amanda Singleton said that worst affected are call centres where between 20% and 30% of staff reported to work. She said that telephone users should see no interruption in service. It is expected that new installations and repair of faults will be worst hit should the strike become protracted.
Police in Pretoria said that several thousand members of the Communication Workers’ Union gathered in Brown Street in the morning for a march to the head office of Telkom and the regional head office of the Post Office to press home their salary demands.
CWU general secretary Seleboho Kiti said non-union members are expected to join the industrial action.
The CWU announced last week its intention to strike to press home its demands for a 14% increase for its members in auxiliary services, 13% for operational staff, and 11% for all members in supervisory positions. The wage demands are for members at both Telkom and the Post Office. Telkom and Post Office are offering their staff 5% and 7% respectively.
The union gave employers notice of a month-long strike. In terms of its agenda, workers will stay away from work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and will picket various Telkom offices and plants on Thursday and Friday.
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