Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will be back at work within two days following an agreement between the union and MTN SA.

CWU president Clyde Mervin has confirmed with ITWeb Africa that the eight week long strike at MTN is over ahead of the agreement signed with the mobile operator earlier today.

"We are going to MTN now to address workers and from there we are going to management to sign the proposed draft agreement this afternoon. We talked about bonus payment which currently we will receive twelve percent (in bonus payments) and we'll get another twelve percent in December, all casuals will be appointed full time, we have a task team which will deal with the whole issue of Sunday and holiday pay and if MTN is found in the wrong - MTN will pay workers accordingly."

Mervin added that many other issues remain unresolved. He said CWU and MTN have agreed to meet within the next thirty days to discuss salary increases which were not granted by by MTN in the agreement, recognition of the union, the applicable no work, no pay principle on which he said MTN might be sympathetic to affected employees

The MTN and CWU agreement comes hot on the heels of a discussion MTN's new CEO Mteto Nyati had with ITWeb Africa in which he described himself as a problem solver.

CWU and MTN have both recognised Nyati for the role he played in ending the industrial action.

"I think it's a fact that he is the one who has opened up engagements. He is the one who has made us to be able to find each other. I think it's a good sign that he's not the same as arrogant Farroukh. He's a person you can talk," is how Mervin described Nyati's role.

MTN executive for group corporate affairs Chris Maroleng told ITWeb Africa that he was present when the agreement was signed and largely agreed with Mervin's summation of Nyati's significant contribution.

"His leadership shows that he has indeed been able to bring both parties closer to each other and ultimately conclude this agreement."

Maroleng declined to delve into the details of the agreement although he confirmed that CWU has accepted MTN's bonus and salary adjustment policies, which were at the core of the dispute.