MTN strike continues, new CEO appointed
Some Communication Workers Union (CWU) members at MTN have returned to work, while others are still continuing with the strike at the regional office and MTN call centre in the city.
POLOKWANE – Some Communication Workers Union (CWU) members at MTN have returned to work, while others are still continuing with the strike at the regional office and MTN call centre in the city.
As the strike continues, MTN appointed Mteto Nyati as the CEO after Ahmad Farroukh resigned as CEO earlier this month.
The members who returned to work spoke to Review on condition of anonymity out of fear of victimisation and said they had no choice but to return to work as they had financial constraints and families to take care of.
“One of the conditions of the strike is ‘no work no pay‘ and some of us are breadwinners in our homes, therefore we decided to go back to work. It is not by choice, but out of responsibility to our families,” the members said.
MTN chief human resources officer, Themba Nyathi, confirmed that some of the union members had returned to work over the past several weeks.
The members added that MTN cancelled their contracts with recruitment agencies and the result was all temporary employees, who were recruited by the agencies were fired.
“One of our demands is that the temporary personnel be reappointed and made permanent.
“However, we heard that once the strike is over, MTN will do retrenchments and there is also a possibility that MTN will outsource services, meaning we will be jobless,” the members said.
According to Nyathi, MTN could not comment on rumours and speculations.
Top of the union’s demands is payment of overtime and bonuses.
“We work long hours and deserve every cent the company owes us.
“The union demanded a 16% bonus, which we later came down to 12%, but MTN agreed to 8% and we accepted. So far 4% was paid to us, and we are still waiting for the rest. However, the company is not saying anything about our overtime,” the members said.
The members added that there were discussions that MTN would permanently close the local call centre, but Nyathi denied this allegation.
“The allegations about the Polokwane call centre being closed is not accurate,” he said.
After several attempts over the past three weeks to get comment from CWU, the provincial secretary, Mack Mamorobele and secretary general, Aubrey Tshabalala could not give any comment on the strike.
