Trade unions will persist with setting up a commission of inquiry into layoffs at Telkom, although the company has refused to take part in the process.
In a statement on Thursday, the Solidarity union spokesperson Dirk Herman said the unions were disappointed at Telkom’s refusal to participate.
Solidarity, the South African Communications Union (Sacu) and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have formed an alliance against Telkom’s plans to retrench more than 4 100 workers over the next three years.
”It would appear that Telkom is scared of solutions,” said Danie de Wet, Solidarity’s chief secretary in the telecommunications industry.
”We have in the past used outside experts with great success to find ways of preventing layoffs. The difference is… those companies were committed to finding ways of retaining workers.
Telkom focuses only on reasons for firing them,” said De Wet.
Telkom spokesperson Ravin Maharaj said the matter was being handled by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
”We are at the CCMA process at the moment and Telkom reserves its rights,” he said.
The trade union commission of inquiry would investigate alternatives to dismissal, and would employ independent advisers, including legal experts, economists and investment advisers.
The names of the commissioners would be announced within a few days.
”We wanted, in the first instance, to see if we could not appoint the commission members jointly with Telkom. We are serious about the quest for solutions and the commission is sure to be of benefit to us,” De Wet said. – Sapa