Union sides with Telkom in move on executives
Telkom should not be criticised for suspending the employees pending an investigation into their behaviour because that is in compliance with accepted norms, the union said.
Telkom has suspended its investor relations officer Belinda Williams, sales and marketing executive Pinky Moholi and human resources executive Oupa Magashula after they protested against management reshuffles.
The trio had complained to the board about changes in their employment conditions.
Their complaints were not only ignored but were viewed as a lack of respect for the new management structure, a source said last week.
The union — which has tried to prevent thousands of its members being retrenched by Telkom — clearly has no sympathy for their plight. Union president Joe Chauke said last week that although the rules that applied to union workers and to nonunion senior managers were different, they were both within the accepted labour laws.
“The suspension of the executives should be respected and the company be given the benefit of doubt,” he said.
“Our members and other ordinary workers have undergone this process. We urge Telkom employees to respect the process and not allow any disgruntled executives to use them as pawns for their unfulfilled desires,” said Chauke.
Telkom has not elaborated on why Williams, Moholi and Magashula were suspended, nor has it said when a review into their behaviour will be held. The trio are not commenting on the case.
It is still not clear how much say Telkom’s senior managers had in the reshuffle.
A source said that the decisions were imposed by the board with little or no consultation.
It is also understood that former CEO Sizwe Nxasana, whose departure paved the way for the reshuffle, was not consulted on the apparent demotion of the three executives who had worked closely with him.
When news of the suspensions broke last week, Telkom shares dived almost 3%.
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