SABC Employees to Protest Prior to the Planned Strike

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU), the Broadcast, Electronic Media and Allied Workers' Union (BEMAWU) and the Media Workers' Association of South Africa (MWASA) have declared a dispute over the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)'s inability to pay a 12,2% increase promised under a multiyear salary deal signed in 2008.

SABC employees will march from the Sentech Tower in Brixton to SABC offices in Auckland Park on 14 July 2009 with the possibility of a strike looming bigger after wage talks failed to bear fruit so far.

The three unions are co-ordinating their actions. The CWU and MWASA have already given notice of industrial action to SABC, while BEMAWU, which framed its dispute differently and has more members, will notify the public broadcaster on 15 July 2009 concerning its plans. BEMAWU strike will be done in support of the CWU and MWASA.

On 10 July 2009 the SABC increased its wage offer to between 9,25% and 10,25%, depending on job grades and was backdated to 1 April 2009. Under this offer, the lowest-paid workers would get a higher increase, said Vulture Ntuluki, CWU representative. The SABC had previously offered 8,5%. Ntuluki said workers had rejected this offer and were being used to bear the brunt of a situation not of their making. President of Bemawu Hannes du Buisson, described a meeting with employees yesterday as "one of the most difficult meetings I've ever attended". He said members were unwilling to compromise or accept anything less than the 12,2% increase. Some members had wanted to strike immediately without giving notice.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said contingency plans would be enacted to deal with this planned march.

The SABC's interim board was appointed on 13 July 2009 by acting President Kgalema Motlanthe . Consisting of Chairwoman Irene Charnley, Deputy Chairman Phillip Mtimkulu, Libby Lloyd, Leslie Sedibe, Suzanne Vos, the SABC's acting group CEO Gab Mampone, Chief Financial Officer Robin Nicholson and Acting Chief Operating Officer Charlotte Mampane, the board will be in place for six months. A planned meeting between organised labour and Charnley was postponed and is expected to take place today.

Reagan Malumo
Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
E mail: reagan@misa.org

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