Telkom is acting in bad faith by withdrawing a revised wage offer while unions are still considering it, trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday (4 June).<\/p>\n
Last week, Telkom presented a revised offer to unions after a wage dispute had been referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), said Solidarity spokesman Marius Croucamp.<\/p>\n
The unions had rejected Telkom’s offer of a 1.5 percent increase.<\/p>\n
The revised offer consisted of a six percent increase, and stipulated that there would be no forced retrenchments for the next three years.<\/p>\n
“Telkom withdrew this condition at a meeting this morning [Tuesday]. Trade unions have, however, already submitted the revised offer, which included this condition, to their members to obtain a mandate,” Croucamp said.<\/p>\n
“This is a mockery of the process, and a huge frustration for union members. Telkom has now gone too far,” he said.<\/p>\n
Telkom spokesman Pynee Chetty said the telecommunications company was still committed to working with organised labour.<\/p>\n
Croucamp said Telkom was willing to discuss the six percent increase, but the retrenchment condition was off the table.<\/p>\n
“Telkom’s sudden turnabout will… result in trade unions having to yet again submit a new offer to their members for their consideration,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The matter will now be pursued at the CCMA tomorrow [Wednesday] as an agreement could not be reached”.<\/p>\n
Telkom offered severance and early retirement packages to 21,000 of its employees earlier this year.<\/p>\n
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