Labour Court grants MTN interdict against striking employees

The Labour Court has, with immediate effect, issued an order interdicting and restraining striking employees and participants from coming within a 100m radius of any of MTN's premises for the duration of the industrial action.

The strike by members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) has been marred by violence and intimidation since it commenced last month. In a bid to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of its employees and to protect its facilities and infrastructure, MTN sought and was successful in obtaining an interdict barring striking employees from disrupting the company's normal operations and intimidating employees that wanted to return to and have already returned to work.

"MTN welcomes the court ruling as it gives credence to our conviction that violence and damage to property are not legitimate avenues of expressing dissatisfaction on labour matters. We hope that the CWU will abide by this second court ruling and will ensure that its members comply with the court ruling," says Themba Nyathi, Chief Human Resources Officer: MTN South Africa.

Nyathi reiterated MTN's position on the impasse by stressing that an independent arbitrator should be appointed to adjudicate on this matter.

"A legally binding arbitration process is the only way that MTN and the CWU can end the current industrial action. The arbitration process will ensure that an independent party who does not have a vested interest in this matter can adjudicate on this matter in a fair and impartial manner. MTN has repeatedly said that it will abide by the findings of the arbitrator, and we urge the CWU to stop being populist and consider acceding to this process as it is the most practical and fair manner of ending this stalemate," concludes Nyathi.