Telkom secures urgent interim court order against CWU
Telkom on Monday afternoon secured an urgent interim court order interdicting and restraining the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) and its members from a number of illegal activities associated with the union’s current strike.
According to Telkom, the CWU blocked access to the Telkom Campus in Centurion, along with some Telkom yards.
"Less than 100 CWU members today chose to harass and intimidate employees in Centurion. There were also some reports of blockades and intimidation at a few Telkom facilities elsewhere in the country. Employees in Centurion were physically restrained by protesting workers from entering the Telkom campus and were threatened with physical injury," Telkom said in a statement.
Police were called in to monitor the protest action.
"There were no incidents and the situation is calm now. The gates are open and [people] are coming in and out," police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said.
Telkom said they would not tolerate thuggish behaviour.
"Telkom spent months negotiating with all of Organised Labour and were greatly encouraged when SACU and Solidarity signed the Collaborative Partnership Agreement on 2 June 2016. At the time, CWU’s leadership indicated their intention to sign the agreement but to date that has unfortunately not happened," Telkom said.
The telecommunications giant said it had met with unions on demands including a moratorium on retrenchments, a cap on outsourcing and a guaranteed increase next year.
"It is disappointing to not only see industrial action from the CWU, but for it to be accompanied with aggressive intimidation of our employees, while blocking access to our campus and some facilities."