The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has threatened strike action in light of Telkom's workforce-trimming exercise, accusing the company of using it as a ploy to retrench thousands of employees.
However, Telkom has dismissed circulating hearsay that the company intends to retrench 13 000 employees, saying "no such decision has been taken".
This comes in the wake of Telkom's announcement last week that it was undergoing a voluntary early retirement process in order to "take control of its headcount costs".
Associated labour unions immediately struck out at Telkom, saying they will fight tooth and nail for their members to remain employed.
Three recognised trade unions - the CWU, South African Communication Union and Solidarity - are opposed to the move, saying it is unacceptable and that due process has not been followed.
Smokescreen
The CWU said in a statement today that Telkom was using its severance package process as a smokescreen to avoid the proper consultation in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, which deals with dismissals based on operational requirements.
"We are also dismayed at the fact that the company never consulted CWU in this process, which is tantamount to undermining our recognition agreement. CWU is convinced that even if they use a nice concept or wording to confuse our members - like 'voluntary severance packages' or 'early retirement packages' - it simply means retrenchment, which as a union we are prepared to fight."
The union accuses Telkom of planning the retrenchment of 13 000 members, thereby relegating its responsibility of implementing government policies, including job creation. "The company seems to be insensitive to the impact this will have on the community, given the current level of unemployment and the fact that the jobless are dependent on the employed."
Strike action
The CWU says it will rally its members to down tools at Telkom. "We will never allow any form of retrenchment of our members. Even if the company threatens our members, we will fight [Telkom] until the last drop of our blood. We urge all of our members not to take voluntary severance packages or early retirement packages."
In response today Telkom reiterated: "No employee is obligated to invoke this offer." The company also says the process is "not a Section 189 process in disguise" and that it is not the first time this offer has been made available to all categories of employees.
The outcome of the process, says Telkom, will not be assessed on the reduction of the number of employees, but on the overall impact of the company's cost structure. "This will be monitored continuously throughout the process to ensure that the Company reaches the desired state of cost efficiency."
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