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Telkom to oppose unions' efforts

Paula Gilbert
By Paula Gilbert, ITWeb telecoms editor.
Johannesburg, 06 Jul 2015
Telkom and trade unions continue battle over planned restructuring that will affect around 7 800 employees.
Telkom and trade unions continue battle over planned restructuring that will affect around 7 800 employees.

Telkom says there is "no merit" in the urgent application launched by three unions to stop the retrenchment of over 4 000 Telkom employees.

Sinah Phochana, Telkom's executive for PR Corporate, says the company is preparing opposing papers to fight an urgent application by Solidarity and two other unions to stop planned restructuring by the telecoms giant that would affect around 7 800 employees.

Solidarity, the Communication Workers Union and the South African Communication Union head to the Labour Court tomorrow in an attempt to gain an urgent interdict to stop a consultation meeting scheduled for Wednesday and facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Telkom's planned restructuring is part of a multi-year turnaround programme which would see around 4 400 employees out of work via voluntary severance packages and voluntary early retirement packages. An additional 3 400 employees would be transferred to external outsourced providers or relocated via enterprise development.

Solidarity deputy general secretary Johan Kruger alleges Telkom is disregarding an agreement on restructuring processes it concluded with trade unions in 2008. Solidarity says the agreement obliged Telkom to reach agreement with them before beginning any restructuring process.

"Telkom is simply carrying on to steamroller the process without heeding input from trade unions or employees," he claims.

Phochana says to date, Telkom has "followed a fair process, including engaging the three unions and sharing information with them, prior to issuing an S189 notice." Phochana believes the consultation process, which is to be facilitated by CCMA commissioners on Wednesday, needs to be allowed to go ahead so that important challenges can be addressed.

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