Less than 3% of Vodacom employees downed tools on Monday after wage negotiations with the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) broke down last week.
”Our business and our services were not disrupted in any way,” said spokesperson Dot Field.
CWU spokesperson Mfanafuthi Sithebe said workers downed tools after negotiations between the two parties broke down last Monday.
The union is protesting for better working conditions and recognition of the union.
Sithebe said Vodacom was attempting to ”do away with the union” by arguing that it did not hold a membership of 30% of Vodacom employees.
”We have reached the required threshold,” he said.
Field said that of Vodacom’s 4 302 employees, only 3% participated in the strike that commenced on Monday.
She said the CWU still did not hold 30% employee representation at Vodacom as agreed upon by both parties at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in 1999.
She said the company was currently under audit by the Department of Communications and the figures were ”not at all” 30% representative.
”If they reach 30% we will gladly give them representation. Vodacom is a law-abiding company, why wouldn’t we be?” she said.
Field said working conditions of employees at Vodacom were ”acknowledged as some of the best” in South Africa.
She said Vodacom had exercised its right to lock out employees who were members of the union, and participating in the strike, in order to compel members to adhere to the terms of the agreement.
The CWU said other workers were expected to join the strike on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Picketing and demonstrations were expected to take place at the Midrand, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town Vodacom offices. — Sapa