(Ecofin Agency) - Over the past two months, the Synergy of Telecommunications Unions of Mali has taken a series of initiatives to overturn a court decision that it considers "unfair" against the country's two main mobile operators.

Employees of the two main Malian mobile operators Orange Mali and Moov Africa Malitel have been on strike since February 21 to protest against the Supreme Court's decision ordering them to pay more than CFA176 billion (304.4 million dollars) for having billed their customers for answering machine calls. The strike was announced by the Synergy of Telecommunications Unions late last week.

The group said the work stoppage, which will continue until Friday, February 25, will be extended once, from Monday, February 28 to Friday, March 4, followed by an unlimited strike if satisfaction is not obtained. Failure to satisfy the first request means the gradual shutdown of all technical equipment due to lack of supply, which could lead to a serious deterioration in the quality of the network, or even the disruption of call transmission. However, the Synergy reassures that the minimum service will be observed, under the texts in force.

The strikers indicate that their decision comes after two weeks of sit-ins and various unsuccessful meetings with the authorities. Saïdou Dia (pictured), a member of the union organization, said: “The Synergy of Telecommunications Unions is in regret to note a complicit silence, an absolute neglect, even a total lack of interest in the legitimate demands of workers in the telecom sector.”

In 2021, the Court of Appeal sentenced Sotelma-Malitel and Orange Mali to a heavy fine under the dispute between them, since 2012, and the Network of Malian consumers of mobile telephony (REMACOTEL). The dispute was about the billing of telephone calls on answering machines. Challenging this decision, the Synergy of Telecommunications Unions said it will make everything possible per the law and the Labor Code in the Republic of Mali to have it overturned.

This strike will disrupt the entire Malian telecom network. "This could lead to the shutdown of mobile, fixed-line, and Internet services. The activities of all segments of the private sector will be disrupted, and the public sectors dependent on telecommunications services will be paralyzed due to the lack of supplies because of the seizure of accounts. The consequences for national stability will be countless," Dia said.

Isaac K. Kassouwi