South Africa’s Communication Workers Union (CWU) has threatened mobile operator MTN with strike action. The union said that it disagrees with the operator’s recent announcement to outsource its call centres.

“Strike action is imminent and could start at any time as MTN management has been mischievous and dishonest. This is unfair treatment and we will show them that they cannot play with people’s lives. The last strike lasted two months and we will do it again if we must,” CWU President, Clyde Mervin, told Fin24.

The previous strike that Mervin was referencing happened in May last year, when union members went on a strike until July to protest  over a variety of issues that included bonuses, the conversion of casual staff into permanent staff, back-pay and overtime payment.

According to the union’s president, around 400 workers could lose their jobs if MTN goes ahead with the outsourcing – which it said should be complete by the end of September. Mervin did add though, that the union will enter into talks with the operator.

“We are going to engage with MTN and are currently seeking a legal opinion,” Mervin said.

MTN has acknowledged that discussions are currently underway, but was quick to add that the unions were made aware of the outsourcing plans.

“MTN is implementing on its strategy of transforming customer experience, an important component to our strategy that the union has been fully appraised of. The unions may have expressed differences of opinion regarding the planned approach, but this does not negate the fact that discussions and consultations with the union on this matter took place,” MTN’s chief human resources officer Nhlanhla Qwabe said.

The union’s general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said that even if they have been consulted, the union didn’t approve of the plans.

“Before MTN embarks on this jobs bloodbath we want every outstanding argument to be resolved, which includes the conversion of casual staff into permanent staff. We cannot allow ourselves to be ambushed,” he said.