TELKOM has once again come under fire from the Communications Workers Union (CWU) for alleged breach of tender procedures. The trade union maintained its resistance to the restructuring of the landline services provider.
“CWU is deeply concerned about the allegations and counter allegations in the media reports relating to the breach of procurement policy processes in the offering of tenders and related cover-ups and anticipated concealments off wrong-doing, reputational damage to the company and its leadership, unilateral implementation of restructuring initiatives without Board approval, and conduct that may allegedly constitute criminal offence/s,” said CWU secretary general Gallant Roberts.
“CWU want to reaffirm its objection to the restructuring of Telkom, for as long as it is not supportive of or aligned to the developmental intentions as adopted by the governing party’s Elective Conference held in December 2008. It is in fact for this reason that CWU forced Telkom into signing a “Memorandum of Understanding”, which in the main stopped the suspiciously haste restructuring of the parastatal and also agreed with Telkom that engagements in this regard will only commence in May 2009.”
The trade union, which represents workers in the telecommunications sector, also said it was concerned about Tuesday’s Telkom board meeting.
“CWU is equally concerned about the Board meeting said to be sitting on Tuesday 10 February 2009 to discuss the “Sale and unbundling of Telkom shares in Vodacom”, as well as its subsidiaries. In this regard, our organization has raised its concerns and objection to the Vodacom – Vodafone transaction, on the basis that CWU was not properly consulted and information relating to the merger was withheld from us by Vodacom and Vodafone. CWU and its members remain opposed to this deal and will continue to take any action necessary to stop it,” Roberts said.
Calling for the intervention of South Africa’s ruling party, he said, “CWU will not allow the looting of Telkom and we will engage the ANC to act decisively to prevent any action by Telkom that undermines the Polokwane resolutions.”
