SABC employees to picket against retrenchments
The South African Broadcasting
Corporation (SABC) employees are expected to picket outside the public
broadcaster’s Auckland Park head offices on Friday.
This follows SABC's recent announcement that it intends to retrench about 981 permanent employees and not renew the contracts of 1 200 freelancers.
The decision has been met with anger, with government saying it will intervene to hopefully find a solution.
Trade unions Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) and Communication Workers Union (CWU) met with SABC on Monday in an attempt to map a way forward.
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Bemawu spokesperson Hannes du Buisson says the aim of the meeting was to obtain a mandate to get business rescue proceedings started.
"Alternatively it was also for employees, as a defence against retrenchments, to go on strike and both options were supported by SABC employees."
Du Buisson says they will apply for a lawful picket and will continue to make their voices heard until the public broadcaster changes its decision.