Ongoing negotiations for Telkom job security and wage increases have not progressed any further since union meetings yesterday (Wednesday), while the part state-owned provider is suspected to be in financial hot water.
Telkom has offered a large number of its employees packages as it had to recently close down an entire department.
HumanIPO reported yesterday on the possibility of a Telkom strike, for which a meeting in Johannesburg was scheduled to better the offer of a six per cent wage increase and job security for three years.
Speaking to HumanIPO, Marius Croucamp, spokesperson for trade union Solidarity, said: “We didn’t really add any value yesterday. We didn’t come to an agreement, however, we did agree as parties to go back to the negotiation of the draft to see if we can resolve it.”
Although three unions are fighting for a fair deal for Telkom employees, the agreement specifications vary with regards to job security and wage scales.
“Our frustration with Telkom is that we don’t know what Telkom’s strategy is,” Croucamp said.
Referring to Telkom’s failed plans of gaining partnership with a Korean telecommunications company about which could have solved problems, the spokesperson declares Telkom’s plans a mystery.
Far from giving up, Croucamp acknowledges the clear difficulty Telkom faces in struggling with financial resources.
The next meeting for negotiations is set for June 12, followed by another consultation with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CMMA) on June 24.
Thereafter the only resolve would be issuing a certificate of non-resolution if no agreement progress has been made.
More than 1,000 people has left Telkom since its cuts began.
“They are final in their current position but they want to negotiate,” Croucamp commented on Telkom’s position as revealed to the union.
Telkom could not be reached by the time of publication.
“We have listened closely at what Telkom has to say…we know what the national situation of Telkom is and I think we have demonstrated that we are prepared to talk,” he added.
Telkom’s annual financial report is due to be published on Friday, June 14, and is expected to be “quite bad,” according to Croucamp.
HumanIPO reported yesterday on Telkom’s considerations of reducing legacy network value.
“I think all these factors might have an influence on the job security offer. We might have forced the company to make this offer,” he said.
