The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will ask the government to investigate Telkom to ascertain if retrenchments are necessary, it said on Friday.
Telkom has indicated that it will retrench 1 381 workers.
CWU president Joe Chauke told journalists in Johannesburg the need for retrenchments must be probed.
”We will approach government formally to say, you are a major shareholder in this company and it is going against government policy,” he said.
Chauke said Telkom revealed plans for retrenchments after announcing huge profits and an R11-million bonus to its CEO.
Telkom has also indicated that it will pay bonuses of between R50 000 and R150 000 to retain top managers.
”In our view these moneys can be used to pay the wages of the workers they want to retrench.”
Chauke said Telkom should stop paying management huge bonuses at the expense of workers.
”Telkom should stop profiteering at the expense of workers.”
Forty percent of Telkom workers are CWU members. — Sapa