Telkom has hit back at claims on Monday by trade union Solidarity that its planned restructuring will target white employees by using race when determining who it lets go of as it seeks reduce the size of its workforce.
“If Telkom proceeds with this, it will mean that white employees will bear the brunt of the telecommunications giant’s retrenchment process,” Solidarity claimed in a statement.
But Telkom has rubbished the allegation.
“The inflammatory and misleading inference by Solidarity that race is the key selection criterion and that white employees will be targeted is unequivocally rejected,” it said on Tuesday.
“It’s regrettable that Solidarity has chosen to play the race card again, in the context of a process that needs to address critical challenges that the company is facing,” the company said.
“Telkom would prefer to focus on the consultation that has been initiated and will take place within the structured process, rather than pursuing media headlines with misleading hyperbole.”
The operator said that in a notice issued to unions in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, it proposed that a “last in, first out” rule apply to retain scarce and critical skills. Where applicable, employment equity consideration would be used as the selection criteria, it said.
“As with any company, Telkom looks at a number of employment criteria in deciding to bring people into the company or to retain them during times of change,” it said.
“Most importantly, we are a technology company so our people must be equipped with the necessary skills to perform the required body of work. They would also be required to have the correct qualifications and training and, importantly, the necessary aptitude and attitude to be a part of the Telkom of the future.” — © 2015 NewsCentral Media