Isaiah Morewagae
4 September 2008
The concerned group accuses the BMC management of 'unfulfilled promises over the exit package for security personnel'.
They contend that they were promised better deals out of their retrenchment but the management somersaulted on their promises. Recently, the High Court dismissed an application by the concerned group who wanted it to suspend their retrenchment pending their plea for re-negotiation of their exit packages.
The concerned group wanted the High Court to suspend their retrenchment saying they wanted to negotiate for improved packages.
"The management wants to give us the exit package that was negotiated in 2006, hence we feel that it is not acceptable at the current inflation rate," they said. The concerned group vowed not to give up after the High Court ruling and later petitioned the Office of the President.
In the letter dated 26 August, 2008, they allege that they were promised to get first priority upon retrenchment, but the management somersaulted on their decision.
They also claim that they received notice of retrenchment on 22 February, 2008 informing them that their last day of work would be 30 June, 2008 and they would be offered the package that was negotiated between management and the trade union in 2006.
"We called the management to the table but all in vain. The matter was referred to the High Court and we lost, but we still feel BMC should adjust the package hence we are calling your office to intervene," said the union representative.
Executive officer, Sonny Molapisi, pointed out that indeed the retrenched staff was promised first priority but "they did not have the required skills and expertise, hence the option of them forming an in-house bid was abandoned". Molapisi added that management has adjusted the exit package by at least 21 percent, taking into account the impact of inflation.
The restructuring drive by BMC started in 2004. The management identified some areas that needed to be outsourced, among them, security services.
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