Solidarity to apply for interdict against Telkom retrenchments
1 July 2015
Trade union Solidarity will approach the Labour Court to obtain an urgent interdict against the planned restructuring and retrenchments at Telkom. The trade union is of the opinion that Telkom is disregarding an agreement on restructuring processes it had concluded with trade unions in 2008. Under this agreement Telkom must meet with trade unions and reach agreement with them before the company may start a restructuring process.
The agreement further provides that should a dispute arise at Telkom’s restructuring forum, such dispute must first be resolved before a restructuring process may start. Although trade unions on 19 June declared a dispute with Telkom over the planned retrenchments, Telkom carried on with the process, and on 22 June issued a section 189 retrenchment notice to trade unions. According to this notice, as many as 4 400 persons could be retrenched.
According to Solidarity Deputy Head Johan Kruger, the trade union has warned Telkom in writing to withdraw the notice. So far, the telecommunication company has refused to do so. “Through the urgent application Solidarity wants to compel Telkom to withdraw the notice and to stop the retrenchment process. We are also applying that the dispute and process first be finalised by means of the restructuring forum. In addition, we are requesting that Telkom discontinue the use of affirmative action as selection criterion during the process,” Kruger said.
Kruger contends that Telkom is deliberately trying to undermine trade unions and is trying to hamper their ability to lessen the impact of retrenchments on their members. “Telkom is simply carrying on to steamroller the process without heeding input from trade unions or employees. Although one or two meetings on the restructuring process have been held, those meetings were essentially a superficial attempt from Telkom to share information. Moreover, trade unions weren’t given an opportunity to give input,” Kruger said.
Telkom must respond before 3 July to Solidarity’s application which will be heard by the court on 7 July.
Statement issued by Johan Kruger, Deputy General Secretary: Solidarity, July 1 2015
