CAPE TOWN: Hundreds of striking MTN workers picketed outside the company’s offices nationwide on Wednesday to force the mobile network company to pay the 16% in unpaid bonuses that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says should have been paid to the workers in March.
CWU obtained permission to strike on May 6 and gave 48-hour notice to strike last Friday. The union wants a 16% bonus and 10% salary increases‚ and well as ex-gratia payments (compensation or voluntary payments) it says MTN has made in the past.
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“In 2015‚ MTN was 1% short of the target and only got 4% guaranteed‚ which means there is no bonus because the 4% is guaranteed‚” said Tshepo Matou‚ CWU’s national organiser. Mr Matou said that‚ however‚ in 2014‚ MTN was off the target by 8% but still paid ex-gratia bonuses to its employees.
“We say give us 16% and not 30%‚” he added. The strike‚ which started at 5.30am at MTN’s head office in Fairland and at MTN offices in other provinces nationwide coincided with morning traffic and made matters worse for motorists trying to pass the picketing workers on 14th Avenue.
