News

THE strike action aimed to push for union recognition in Vodacom has been temporarily halted after an interim court order was granted to the company.

Vodacom sought the court's intervention after unionised workers went on strike on 5 March in support of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) campaign for union recognition in Vodacom.

The industrial action follows an unresolved dispute on the recognition of CWU which has recruited over 1,200 workers of the 4,500 Vodacom employees.

The South African Labour Relations Act provides for recognition of unions by companies when they have 30 per cent membership.

The union has disputed claims by Vodacom that only 10 per cent of the workforce has joined CWU.

Union spokesperson Mfanafuthi Sithebe says "more than 1,200 Vodacom workers have joined our union."

Meanwhile, the 15 million-member strong Union Network International (UNI) has launched a global campaign in support of union recognition at Vodacom, South Africa.

In a message sent to Vodacom, UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings said, "The attitude of Vodacom management towards the CWU and Vodacom workers is totally inexcusable and doesn't comply with ILO Core Labour Standards."

UNI is urging Vodacom to stop its anti-union tactics and to recognise the union so that it can start to represent workers.

Vodacom Group mobile phone company operates in five African countries and is jointly owned by Telkom South Africa and Vodafone UK. Neither Vodacom nor Vodafone has union recognition across Africa.

UNI-Africa News, 13 March