Striking SABC workers to meet with management

This comes after SABC Acting Group CEO, Nomsa Philiso received a memorandum by the striking workers, which subsequently led to a mediation meeting being called by management and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

The meeting is currently underway and speculation is rife that a revised offer may be made.

CWU spokesperson, Aubrey Tshabalala says the strike is continuing.

''We believe that they could be something on the table, but as this matter stands our industrial action continues so that we can make sure SABC comes back with an offer our members can accept''.

There are fears the strike could influence the television and radio coverage given to the African National Congress' (ANC) national conference at the weekend. 

Tshabalala says it was not their intention to strike during such an important event. 

''We warned the SABC management for the past nine months that we don't want to interrupt programming schedules should they not come to the negotiating tables.

''Inasmuch as the ANC NEC is an important activity in the South African calendar, it cannot supersede the needs and plights of SABC workers.’'

The unions are asking for a 10% increase backdated to 1 April 2015, but the SABC said they can only afford to offer them a 4.5% hike given the state owned entity’s current financial crisis.

Tshabalala says his positive the SABC may revise this offer.