Converged communications company Neotel has a fight on its hands as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Solidarity Workers Union prepare to fight tooth and nail to protect its members from proposed retrenchments at the company.
SA's second national fixed-line operator recently confirmed it may retrench staff as the company is not performing in line with expectations. A process involving staff consultation is currently under way and Neotel says some jobs may become redundant.
Both Solidarity and the CWU have members employed by Neotel and both have stated the retrenchments will be challenged despite Neotel's alleged negative attitude towards labour organisations.
“Neotel has made it clear in the past that trade unions aren't welcome there. This raises questions about the organisation's commitment to act in its employees' interest,” says Moira-Marie Kloppers, communications officer for Solidarity.
She argues that, although Solidarity has been made aware of Neotel's planned retrenchments, the union has not yet received a formal Section 189 notice or any information whatsoever.
Neotel had not commented by the time of publication.
“Solidarity will definitely get involved in the consultation process. Solidarity's main aim is to protect people and their jobs, and so our first aim will be to minimise the amount of retrenchments, but also to soften the effect of the retrenchments and negotiate the best severance packages if retrenchments cannot be avoided,” notes Kloppers.
CWU secretary and spokesperson Gallant Roberts says the CWU is preparing to intervene as well. He adds that the union intends to engage with Neotel employees and management to minimise the extent of the retrenchments.
Roberts says the CWU urges Neotel to consider every alternative before engaging in the retrenchment process.
Neotel recently said its “realignment” process will be conducted in accordance with SA's labour law, and the company is likely to have a clear picture of whether staff will be retrenched - and the number of employees affected - by the beginning of February.
Any possible retrenchments will take place by the end of April, stated Neotel.
Related story:
Neotel mulls retrenchments
Share
