{"id":43676,"date":"2013-08-05T12:39:03","date_gmt":"2013-08-05T10:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=43676"},"modified":"2013-08-06T08:50:50","modified_gmt":"2013-08-06T06:50:50","slug":"telkom-and-unions-kiss-and-make-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/telecommunications\/43676\/telkom-and-unions-kiss-and-make-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Telkom and unions kiss and make up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Telkom<\/a> has announced the conclusion of its substantive negotiations with trade unions the Communications Workers Union (CWU<\/a>), the South African Communications Union (Sacu) and Solidarity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This would mark an end to the dispute which\u00a0began in March, after Telkom announced that management and bargaining unit staff would be afforded the opportunity of applying for voluntary severance packages (VSPs) and early retirement packages (VERPs) until the end of August 2013.<\/p>\n

The company said on Monday (5 August) that it met with Sacu to sign the three year labour agreement, effectively launching Telkom into the implementation phase of the agreement.<\/p>\n

“Sacu’s support of the agreement is indicative that the majority of employees are in favour of the agreement,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is encouraging that our employees are willing to support the Company\u2019s initiatives to ensure cost effectiveness and the sustainability of our business. Our determination to close the wage disparities has not gone unnoticed,\u201d said Telkom Group CEO, Sipho Maseko<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Telkom, the agreement, effective for a three-year period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2016, will assist the company on its journey to restoring financial health and ensuring long-term sustainability by eliminating uncertainties over labour costs for the next three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate the role that labour has played in facilitating this agreement and note the willingness to work together for the good of our employees and the organisation. We look forward to ongoing engagement with labour to address productivity initiatives and interventions,\u201d Maseko said.<\/p>\n

Telkom said it has received written confirmation from Solidarity to proceed with the implementation of the agreement and an official signing ceremony was held recently with CWU.<\/p>\n

Telkom said it has initiated the implementation process which will entail a special payroll run and the payment of part of the back pay effective from 1 April 2013 by August 7,\u00a02013 with the rest being paid out onAugust 23, 2013.<\/p>\n

The following principles of the agreement will now come into effect over the next three years:<\/p>\n