The three unions opposing Telkom`s proposed job cuts have jointly formed a multi-disciplinary commission of inquiry to investigate the motivations behind the monopoly`s intended retrenchments.
Telkom recently announced that it plans to go ahead with the retrenchments of about 4 100 workers over the next three years.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU), the SA Communication Union and Solidarity have brought together numerous experts to focus on the macro- and microeconomic issues, the processes and operations, and the legal aspects, although Telkom declined to participate in the commission.
According to Solidarity`s chief secretary for telecommunications, Danie de Wet, the unions have also brought several former senior Telkom employees on board.
"We are disappointed that Telkom has elected not to work with us in the commission of inquiry, but we will nonetheless continue to look out for the interests of our members to the best of our ability," he says.
"Since the three unions have combined their efforts, different aspects of the process are being conducted by different unions, and our friends at the CWU have contacted government - in the form of the departments of communication and public enterprise - in regard to this issue, but we have not had any reply as of yet."
He says Solidarity believes Telkom`s proposed retrenchments fly in the face of government`s stated ambition of creating jobs for all.
"Our whole argument is how can a company that announces a profit of some R4.5 billion then turn around and want to retrench so many people. There`s definitely something wrong with that," says De Wet.
"We have had success in similar circumstances with one of the mining houses, but the two key differences were that mine management were involved with us throughout the process, and they also approached the situation with a view to seeing how they could save jobs.
"Telkom appear to already have made up their mind that they are going to retrench, which is not constructive at all. They really need to change their attitude."
In response to the unions, Telkom spokesman Ravin Maharaj says: ``Telkom reserves its right not to participate in the commission. It will, however, continue to consult with organised labour under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration."
He says discussions kicked off on 6 August at the request of organised labour, which was seeking an independent facilitator for consultation talks with Telkom.
"Further meetings have been agreed to for 24 August, 4 September and 13 September. Telkom and the unions are also meeting ahead of consultation talks to interrogate the business rationale behind Telkom`s review of its business from an operational perspective."
According to De Wet, the process will be determined by the Labour Relations Act, and the unions will continue to work in terms of this.
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