South Africa’s Solidarity union members propose to go on strike at Milnerton Maritime Radio, a unit of fixed-line phone company Telkom, which could affect shipping off the Cape coast, the union said on Wednesday.
Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said in a statement the trade union has obtained permission from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to call a strike over a dispute concerning weekend work.
Solidarity said it has told the company of its decision to strike from midnight on Wednesday, but union officials were not immediately available for comment on how long any strike might last.
Telkom was not immediately available to comment.
Of the 39 Milnerton Maritime Radio staff members, 32 belong to Solidarity, the union said.
Milnerton control centre has a contract with South Africa’s Transport Department to monitor distress calls from ships at sea.
Shares in state-controlled Telkom, Africa’s biggest telecoms company, were 0,90% lower at R163,85 against a 0,42% decline in the Top-40 index by 10.19am GMT. – Reuters