Solidarity has called for renewed wage talks with telecommunications giant Telkom, the trade union said on Thursday.
The request for another round of negotiations came after claims that Telkom gave its top management “exorbitant salary increases”, spokesman Marius Croucamp said in a statement.
“Top management received exorbitant salary increases, while many employees, according to Telkom’s final wage offer, will basically get no increase. [We] maintain the situation has led to a breach of trust between top management and ordinary employees.”
According to the union, Telkom drew up a final wage offer linked to a “differentiation model” that involved a three-year contract.
“[The model] is aimed at rectifying historic salary imbalances … certain employees will receive an increase above 6%, while others will get virtually no increase, which comes down to a wage freeze,” Croucamp said.
“As a result of the agreement certain employees will, in real terms, get a wage decrease over the next three years, as they will stay on the same salary level during that period.”
Telkom initially offered a 1,5% salary increase, which was revised at a later stage.
Solidarity also alleged that the final agreement was implemented despite it declaring a dispute.
Telkom was not available to comment on the claims. — Sapa