SABC, CCMA job cut talks to start in July: Bemawu
The Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) says consultations around the proposed job cuts by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) are expected to start in July.
The financially embattled public broadcaster indicated this week that it is looking to retrench some 600 employees.
It subsequently approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to facilitate the consultation processes.
Bemawu president Hannes du Buisson says the unions received a date from the CCMA on Friday.
"Depending on the availability of all the parties it seems the consultation talks will start on the 1st or 2nd of July," says Du Buisson.
Du Buisson believes that freelancers at the public broadcaster should also form part of the consultation talks.
"The freelancers should not technically be part of the talks because they are not employees, but we believe that they should be part of the talks because we believe it will affect their rights at the end.”
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Union 'shocked' at looming SABC retrenchments
On Thursday, the public broadcaster announced plans to cut down its workforce in the face of financial hurdles. But Bemawu president Hannes du Buisson says the timing couldn't be worse. "We had a meeting with the SABC two weeks ago and a follow up meeting last week.