Threats of blackouts, strikes at SABC as board calls meeting with unions
The labour unions representing workers at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) are set to meet with management this week.
This comes after the disgruntled workers, unions and political parties faced off the public broadcaster last work over plans to retrench some 400 workers.
The SABC has come under fire for failing to turn the entity around – risking the livelihoods of hundreds.
There is mounting pressure for the broadcaster to retract the Section 189 notices issued.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) says it will not shake hands with the board until its demands are met.
“CWU has received a letter of invitation from SABC requesting to urgently meet with the union to discuss the alternatives to retrenchments. We have responded positively to the invite and the meeting will be sitting on Monday,” says CWU’s general secretary, Aubrey Tshabalala.
Workers have refused to back down, vowing to continue strike action outside the SABC’s headquarters in Auckland Park.
“We have responded positively to the invite and the meeting will be sitting on Monday the 23rd of November 2020. We will be giving feedback at the picketing lines on Monday after the meeting,” Tshabalala adds.
ALSO READ:
Contingency plans in place to avoid weekend 'blackout', says SABC
Disgruntled employees have threatened to take the broadcaster off the air in retaliation for its plans to retrenchment some 400 staff members. The employees joined a lunchtime picket by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) and various political parties at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters on Friday.
The Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) says it also expects to meet with the SABC board soon.
But Bemawu’s president Hannes du Boisson says they will continue with court action, despite continued talks.
“They gave a few dates for this week; we will of course not be available on Friday because we will be at the Labour Court interdicting them to withdraw those termination letters.
“We are not going to terminate any of the processes, not the strike, not the urgent interdict.
Du Boisson adds there are concerns over alleged threats by the SABC management against striking workers.
“In fact, we have learned in the meantime that the SABC has started to threaten that they will discipline people that have spoke out.
“They must stop intimidating employees.”
