South African telecommunications services provider Telkom is creating a smokescreen in an attempt to sway public opinion, said Aubrey Tshabalala, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

This was in response to a statement issued by the telco on 15 August announcing it had secured an urgent interim court order against the Union based on what it claimed were a number of illegal activities related to the current strike.

Yesterday Telkom claimed members of CWU had blocked access to the Telkom Campus in Centurion, along with some of the company's yards.

The telco also accused union members of harassing and intimidating employees.

In its statement, the company said: "Telkom will not tolerate the sort of thuggish behaviour we witnessed today."

However, Tshabalala has refuted the claims and said the Union complies with what he called "standard South African law" governing strikes, particularly picketing, and that talk of violence is exaggerated.

He also accused Telkom of not responding to a meeting to layout picketing rules.

"We have agreed that there should be no violence and no blockage to access and exit of the company's premises. Telkom undermined the strike by not responding ... they thought workers will not come out ... now that workers have come out, now they are trying all the tactics, even to sway the view of the public."

Tshabalala spoke of the demand of 11% annual salary increase and said the company is offering 0%.

In its release Telkom also said, "Telkom spent months negotiating with all of Organised Labour and were greatly encouraged when SACU and Solidarity signed the Collaborative Partnership Agreement on 2 June 2016. At the time, CWU's leadership indicated their intention to sign the agreement but to date that has unfortunately not happened."

As to whether the Union would commit to the Agreement, Tshabalala raised the issue of the moratorium on retrenchments and said the Union wants 3 years, and added that it rejected the idea that 1000 employees be made available for outsourcing, and also called for clarification on a 6% once-off increase.

"To succeed in delivering sustainable growth, Telkom must fully turn its attention to our customers. We have to focus on how best we can improve our productivity and better serve our customers and the Collaborative Partnership Agreement, with the incentive programme Performance Pays, is how we will encourage and reward staff for delivering service excellence," Telkom added.