Vodacom has responded to the Communication Workers Union's (CWU's) threats to strike if the company includes white employees in its employee share scheme.
The company announced plans last year to allocate 25% of a R7.5 billion black empowerment stake to employees.
The CWU has expressed concerns that the deal will include white employees, which it says contradicts the broad-based codes of empowerment.
"All South African employees - black, Asian, Indian, white, male and female - will participate in the BEE transaction," says Vodacom chief communications officer Dot Field.
However, she adds that - in line with market practice - black employees will be given preference. "Black staff are specifically included in the envisaged BEE transaction, and the allocation of shares is weighted in their favour."
The union has also criticised the telecoms giant for not consulting with black employees on the deal from its inception.
"Given the guaranteed participation by staff in the transaction, staff members were not included in any of the short-listed strategic partner consortia," says Field.
She says no formal complaint has been made to either the company or consulting advisor in the transaction, Rand Merchant Bank.
According to Vodacom, the union has no basis to organise industrial action. "They are not a representative union [within Vodacom] and there is no dispute."
Last year, the CWU was involved in a protracted strike against its non-recognition as a representative body within Vodacom.
The operator says the terms of the transaction will be announced in the third quarter of this year.
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