An interim interdict to prevent striking workers from entering, interfering with or obstructing access to Vodacom premises was extended on Wednesday.
The Labour Court extended the interdict to Friday, when it will deliver a final decision on whether the interim interdict will be made permanent, said Vodacom spokesperson Dot Field.
An urgent interdict was sought by Vodacom on July 3 against striking Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) members blocking the entrance to Vodaworld in Midrand, the company said in a statement. The interdict restrained them from entering or being on company premises and from interfering or obstructing access to the premises.
On Wednesday, members of the CWU marched to a Vodacom call centre in Johannesburg. They handed over a memorandum detailing their demands to company management. Fields confirmed receipt of the memorandum.
The CWU’s demands include recognition of the union, fair trade-union representation for workers at disciplinary hearings, leave for trade-union activities, and for the union’s conditional recognition to be replaced by unconditional recognition.
The union’s main grievance is Vodacom’s failure to recognise it as a collective bargaining agent and a representative of its workers.
Vodacom has stated that the union will only be recognised when it holds a 30% membership, as set out by the Labour Relations Act and case law. The union currently had just less than 10%, it said. ”Vodacom does not believe the CWU’s accusations are valid.”
The union disputes this. CWU spokesperson Mfanafuthi Sithebe said there are 1 325 union members out of just more than 2 200 employees at Vodacom.
He added that Vodacom agreed to a forensic audit to clarify the figures. Field confirmed that the audit is currently taking place by a company appointed by the union, and said preliminary figures confirm the union membership at just less than 10%.
Sithebe said the union was meeting to decide on a way forward on Wednesday and will announce its plans on Thursday.
Workers at Vodacom downed tools on July 2, demanding recognition of the CWU. About 230 workers remain on strike, of which roughly 40 picket daily, the company said. — Sapa