Telkom violated a long-term gain-sharing agreement that it signed with unions earlier this year, says the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
The three-year agreement, which was signed following months of negotiations, strike action by the unions and threats of legal action by both sides, guaranteed an average salary increase of 6.25% to approximately 23 000 staff members represented by CWU, Solidarity and the South African Communications Union (SACU).
Additionally, supervisors among the staff were to receive a lump sum of R15 000, skilled technical people were allocated R12 000, while unskilled workers were allocated R10 000.
However, an addendum to the agreement, which is in ITWeb's possession, shows Telkom subsequently amended the offer so that 25% of the gain-sharing portion is paid on or before 25 November every year, subject to the fixed-line operator's interim financial results.
A second payment, 75% of the staff member's portion, would be paid on or before 25 July every year. The second payment is conditional to Telkom's annual results.
Unilateral change
CWU spokesman Mfanafuthi Sithebe says the amendment of the gain-sharing agreement was a unilateral decision by Telkom, and accuses the fixed-line operator of violating the terms of the wage agreement.
However, Telkom says the SACU and Solidarity have signed the amended gain-sharing agreement.
Jannie Volschenk, deputy general secretary of SACU, says it engaged in extensive negotiations with Telkom, which started in July, before it signed the addendum to the agreement in September.
"Our members mandated us to sign the amendment as everyone is strapped for some cash before Christmas and the festive season," Volschenk says.
Since the union did not accept the amendments, CWU members will receive their 100% gain-sharing during June 2007, says Charlotte Mokoena, Telkom group executive of human resources. That is in line with the long-term agreement, she says.
Sithebe also questions why a company that declared 30.3% growth in operational profit, which amounts to R14.7 billion, is unable to pay its staff members what is due to them.
However, Mokoena saysTelkom is in a position to honour its financial obligations with unions, provided that happens within the parameters of the agreements and based on financial performance of the company.
"There is a direct correlation between high performance and incentives, hence a review and adjustments of our processes and engagement with organised labour," she says.
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