/ 7 August 2008

Telkom to resume talks with unions

Telkom will resume wage negotiations on Thursday with the two trade unions representing its workers.

”Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and the SA Communications Union will be responding to the company’s revised offer and in return it will respond to their revised demands,” said CWU in a statement.

Telkom workers returned to work on Tuesday this week after a meeting between the company and unions on Sunday. The meeting followed a stayaway which lasted for three days. The workers agreed to return to work, while negotiations continued.

CWU secretary general Gallant Roberts said the unions would consider other forms of action if an agreement was not reached at the meeting on Thursday.

Telkom’s revised offer is an 11% salary increase which would be effective from April 1 2008 to March 31 2009. It had previously offered 10,5%. A further 0,5%, effective from October 1 2008 to March 31 2009 was also part of the revised offer.

According to Roberts, Telkom agreed to review the ”gain-sharing” calculations formula.

”The company agreed not to apply the ‘no work, no pay rule’ for the three days the workers were on stayaway.”

He said the company also agreed that its revised offer would be extended to contribution on medical aid and the standby allowances.

However, responding to the revised offer, the trade unions also presented Telkom with their revised demands of 11,6% effective from April 1 2008 to March 31 2009 and a further 1% effective from October 1 2008 to March 31 2009. – Sapa