dark mode light mode Search
Search
MTN

MTN workers embark on strike action

Workers of MTN on Wednesday embarked on what has become the company’s first major strike since the company was formed. The workers are asking the management of the network for increased salary.

On Wednesday, about 700 workers wore red T-shirts and carried placards with slogans such as “MTN integrity is gone”. They temporarily blocked the main road leading to MTN’s head office in South Africa and went ahead to present their demands.

MTN Strike

“MTN continues to rake in profits as the biggest mobile operator on the continent and cannot deny the very people who make it possible to prosper the right to share in its success,” Thabo Magalane, deputy general secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) said in an address to workers.

The CWU is asking for a 10 percent pay rise, a 16 percent bonus payment and higher allowances for work done over weekends and holidays.

“We can no longer tolerate the arrogance and plain refusal of the company to meet legitimate, reasonable demands of workers,” Magalane said.

Ahmad Farouk, head of MTN’s South African operations, was escorted by police back to the company’s offices through the crowd of protesters.

The network is reportedly attempting to lower costs in the face of tough competition that has hit profit

Earlier in March, MTN reported a 9 percent increase in full-year profit. The company employs about 6,500 people in its home market, where it trails rival Vodacom by subscribers.

Photo Credit: Sydney Seshibedi

Total
0
Shares