Vodacom and the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) disputed on Wednesday the number of workers on strike at the company. The strike — over working conditions — began on Monday.
Vodacom said out of its workforce of 4 302 employees, less than 120 were striking countrywide. The CWU said 1 325 employees embarked on strike action.
CWU spokesperson Mfanafuthi Sithebe said: ”Over 200 workers from Gauteng marched to [Vodacom’s] headquarters in Midrand this [Wednesday] afternoon, so how can their figures be at all possible?”
He said if the marchers had not been numerous, the police and private security guards would not have turned out as they had. ”This is a strike about workers’ rights and not about numbers,” he said.
While the workers marched to the building, Vodacom spokesperson Dot Field said there were not many. ”In fact, less than 60 are currently marching towards Vodaworld,” she said.
Sithebe said the union had asked Vodacom to obtain an independent auditor to put the issue to rest. ”We have asked them to get an auditor but they have not responded … what exactly do they have to hide?”
Field said the company’s records show that less than 15% (645) of its staff belong to the CWU. ”We have asked the union to present us with more names, but then we received names of people who we have not even heard of, or aren’t even employed within the company.”
She said Vodacom respects the CWU, but it does not have the 30% employee membership needed for recognition, as agreed at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in 1999. ”If they reach the target, then we will gladly recognise them.”
In a memorandum presented by the marchers, the CWU demands that Vodacom recognise the CWU for collective bargaining purposes.
The union said workers are subjected to disciplinary hearings without proper representation. Workers who assist their fellows at such hearings are penalised for not meeting their performance goals, and this affects their bonuses.
Some are even expected to represent workers on off-days, and they ended up losing pay, the union said.
The CWU also demands that elected shop stewards be given paid time off to perform their duties as trade-union representatives. — Sapa