Johannesburg - The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it plans on continuing its strike at Telkom, despite the company urging its members to return to work.

CWU general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said the union remained confident that the strike , which has now entered its fifth week, was the best move currently.
Telkom workers affiliated to the Communication Workers Union downed tools demanding an 11 percent wage increase and six months paid maternity leave. Credit: INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Workers affiliated to the union downed tools demanding an 11 percent wage increase and six months paid maternity leave.

“CWU remains confident that our strike is making inroad and serious impact to production in the company. It has made the company to spend large of its time running to courts in order to interdict the industrial action,” he said.

The union said it was positive that it would emerge victorious.

“Our strike is strengthening and we are positive that we will win.”

The union also addressed its issues at MTN, repeating its demands for the company to end an outsourcing of its call centres as well as converting temporary staff into permanent workers.

The union has made it clear that a strike was looming if “MTN does not cooperate”.

This comes after MTN announced it plans to outsource some of its call centre facilities in a bid to optimise its operations and enhance customer experience.

“We have engaged and signed agreement with MTN. However… this seems to be on the contrary when it comes to implementation. Outsourcing is not only the area of disagreement.”

The CWU has confirmed it has legally interdicted MTN on the outsourcing matter.

The matter is set down for August 31.

“We are very confident of our case that the outcomes of the case will breed fresh air to those down trodden workers who had sacrificed a lot to turn the fortunes of the company,” said Tshabalala.