Union flags discrimination at Telkom

Trade union Solidarity has accused Telkom of using race and gender as criteria for awarding voluntary severance packages and has threatened the company with a Labour Court interdict if it continues on this path.

According to the union, Telkom indicated that it intends to offer severance packages to employees soon and that affirmative action will be a major consideration in awarding the packages.

In 2009, an agreement was reached between various trade unions and Telkom in terms of which employees' job security was guaranteed up to and including 2011. However, employees are now being pressured into taking severance packages, Solidarity states.

But Telkom has responded, saying that the voluntary severance packages are offered to employees as a choice. “Should Telkom decide to afford the opportunity of applying for voluntary severance packages (VSPs) and voluntary early retirement packages (VERPs) to all bargaining unit personnel, there will be no obligation on any employee to apply.

“The decision to apply for a package will, therefore, be at the sole discretion of each individual employee. Due to the voluntary nature of such a process, there will be no bearing on the job security agreement with employees.”

Apart from concerns about job security, Solidarity argues that it is also concerned about the discriminatory process Telkom is using to award the packages.

Telkom has indicated that race and gender would be the main consideration in awarding the severance packages - which would be discriminatory to all concerned, says the union.

“Telkom is consciously encouraging white employees to leave the company, while black employees are excluded from the severance packages, which is sheer discrimination to both sides,” argues Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.

But Telkom has hit back, saying the only criteria that may be used in the approval of applications for VSPs and VERPs, will be business requirements and critical business needs.

The company adds it will only offer severance packages to employees after formal consultation with the three recognised trade unions (Communication Workers Union, South African Communication Unions, and Solidarity).

According to the union, the voluntary packages will be offered from 30 August to 17 September 2010. Solidarity has appealed to Telkom in a letter to not go ahead with the process of voluntary layoffs.