Vodacom Staff on Strike

South Africa's Communication Workers Union (CWU) has confirmed that workers at the mobile network, Vodacom have begun industrial action in protest at the company's refusal to recognise the union. Vodacom says that the union has insufficient members working for the company to expect formal recognition.

Workers have started with a "go-slow" this morning - which was escalated with pickets and demonstrations outside Vodacom offices this lunchtime. Picketing will continue for the rest of the day. A one-day strike is planned for this Friday.

The dispute between the two partied was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in February. Vodacom had secured a ruling from the Labour Court at the same time preventing the union from calling for industrial action, but this was recently overturned.

The CWU said that if they cannot reach an agreement, that they would embark on further industrial action, which could include secondary strikes by CWU members at other companies."

Posted to the site on 6th June 2007