Nothing has been resolved at TogoCom in the conflict between the unions and the management of the newly privatized Group.
One strike went on for 48 years and another could follow in the coming weeks.
Employees demand the improvement of their working conditions and the payment of arrears of premiums. The government is called upon to mediate.
‘Nothing changes, the movement will resume but harder’, president Ahlonko Georges Sanvee, general secretary of SYLPOSTEL-PECWU (Free Trade Union of Posts and Telecommunications) in the following interview.
Republicoftogo.com: What are the employees’ demands?
Ahlonko Georges Sanvee: This is the non-respect of texts and benefits acquired from workers. In addition, the new partners (Malagasy Axian Group, editor’s note) do not respect anyone even our political authorities. This attitude has become unbearable. There is a need to act.
We deplore the disorganization of work by the very outsourcing of the main activities for the benefit of a company without experience presented as more experienced than TogoCom which is a historical operator.
There is also the continued deterioration of living and working conditions. Togocom is recognized by ARCEP as the operator with the worst quality of service in the country. So much so that ARCEP was forced to threaten him with a fine of 2% of annual turnover.
Republicoftogo.com: And what does the administration say?
Ahlonko Georges Sanvee: Before the labor inspectorate, the administration was unable to make any proposals, hence the strike.
Republicoftogo.com: After the strike observed at the end of the year, we are talking about the beginning of a solution. Is it correct ?
Ahlonko Georges Sanvee: The government took the initiative instead of a failed employer in a strategic sector. Commitments have been made to start negotiations from January 4, 2021.
The unions suspended the strike slogan on December 31, but currently TogoCom has not paid the additional New Year’s gifts to all workers as the agreement recommends. Next week promises to be difficult under these conditions. Wait and see
If the employer does not comply by paying the complement to all, as requested by the government, the movement will resume but harder and the negotiations scheduled for January 4 will be postponed indefinitely.
Republicoftogo.com: Does this conflict have repercussions for subscribers?
Ahlonko Georges Sanvee: In the mobile, there will be degradation of the quality of the service, no service will be provided… In the fixed, same thing in addition it will be more serious than the mobile where one can have recourse to another operator.
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