Johannesburg – The Section 189 consultation process at Cell C facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was delayed on Friday due to complaints raised by organised labour, the company said.
Cell C initiated the section 189 consultation process with the Information Communication Technology Union (ICTU), the ,majority union at its operations, over its proposed plan to cut 40% of its workforce.
“Cell C is of the view that the ICTU union is using delay tactics in this process,” said the company.
The company said the CCMA commissioner had agreed to take under review only two of the issues raised by the unions, including that the section 189 notice was defective in the manner in which it was served.
The CCMA was also concerned about the collective agreement saying the ICTU should be the sole representative in this process on behalf of all employees within the bargaining unit.
The union is opposed to the proposed job cuts. Its spokesperson Thabang Mothelo said on Friday that the CCMA made the ruling after it raised concerns that the consultation proceedings were grossly defectice.
“The CCMA Commissioner ruled that the proceedings are irregular and would need to make a further ruling on whether the current Section 189 process should proceed or not,” Mothelo said.
Cell C announced plans to cut 960 out of its 2500 total staff complement, saying that it was part of the implementation of a new organisation structure.
