SABC strike not protected
OVER 100 WORKERS PICKET OUTSIDE BROADCASTER’S AUCKLAND PARK HQ
Striking employees at the SABC will face disciplinary action, according to the state broadcaster. More than 100 workers picketed outside the SABC headquarters in Auckland Park yesterday, demanding a 10% salary increase and a 13th cheque after negotiations between management and the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) broke down.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said workers were issued with a letter stating that they had failed to follow due processes in applying for a protected strike and instructing them to report to work yesterday morning.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) withdrew its strike notice at the 11th hour, but scores of workers went ahead with the strike, with some claiming that some CWU members were in the crowd with them.
“Firstly, these are members of Bemawu, it’s just one union, you can’t give the impression that everybody is on strike. The other union, the CWU, is not on strike and some staff members are not unionised, so they are not on strike,” said Kganyago.
Negotiations between unions and management broke down this year while the SABC was facing a dire financial situation after being mired in gross financial mismanagement and allegations of corruption. In September, its board told government it would need a R3 billion bailout.
“The negotiations were suspended for various reasons. It is common knowledge that we do not have money, so instead of going to the media, we are saying let us put those things on the table so we can reach an agreement and not communicate via media,” said Kganyago.
“At the moment, up until the strike happened, the negotiations were on the table. We said to unions yesterday we were getting feedback from the board. The board said we need to reopen negotiations, so they can be tabled in a structured manner.”
Negotiations were continuing, but members of Bemawu said they would not back down from their demands.
But striking workers who spoke to The Citizen said it was not fair to make them pay for the mistakes of top management by depriving employees of a salary increase and a December bonus.