Trade union Communication Workers Union (CWU) has launched an urgent court application to interdict Telkom from implementing new organisational structure until it complied with a “fair labour process”.
The union claims 200 additional jobs will be lost if the plan is executed in its current form, worsening the unemployment crisis engulfing the country.
This year alone, Telkom has laid off 2 000 people, and the CWU is accusing the telecommunications company of violating labour rules to continue sacking people.
CWU says with the new organisational structure unveiled to workers on 7 August, Telkom is seeking to have an individual, in some cases, do a job that was normally done by three people, which will result in further job losses.
CWU says it wants Telkom to be interdicted from “conducting interviews, short-listing and appointing candidates for the posts advertised” which closed last week.
According to the proposed new organisational structure, the number of employees likely to be affected is 2 384, the opportunities available are 2 164 and the reduction will be 220.
Additionally, the union says: “It was further indicated that employees who are affected can only apply for two posts and if not successful in those applications, the employee will not be placed in the respondent’s workplace and are barred from applying for any other post.”
The labour court will hear arguments on 1 September.