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The conflict between the unions and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has escalated as the public broadcaster prepares a round of job cuts that could affect 600 people.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) previously said it was discussing the possibility of a “full-blown strike” and has now said that it will cause a total blackout at SABC if its workers are affected.
“If the employer becomes so arrogant that it undermines everything related to the workers, we must withdraw the workforce and that will lead to a complete blackout at SABC on both radio and television because that is the last solution we have to consider.” said the CWU. Eyewitness news.
A complete blackout would bring the public broadcaster to a halt, unable to broadcast content through its various channels.
The SABC has proposed to implement job cuts that will affect 600 employees in an effort to improve their financial situation, but unions representing SABC workers have threatened to sue the public broadcaster if appropriate.
Earlier This week, Bemawu, one of the unions representing SABC workers, threatened to take the announcer to the Labor Court if he went ahead with the cuts without further consultation.
Spokesperson Hannes du Buisson stated that the consultation was not carried out in full compliance with the LRA.
“The parties were busy with inquiries, and due to the fact that the SABC was adequately and intensively questioned about its rationale and structures, in particular the structures in which the SABC has increased levels of senior management rather than if they were reduced, the SABC ended the consultation process through meetings, ”said Du Buisson.
It added that the organization had never been invited to make alternate presentations for affected employees, as stated by the SABC.
“It is blatantly false to claim that we have not made proposals,” Du Buisson said.
Section 189 process completed
The public broadcaster had previously sent employees a letter stating that a Section 189 process regarding the staff reductions was concluded.
“The SABC has in good faith exceeded the requirements of the Law and has completed 16 sessions in 120 days: nine bilateral sessions between the consulting parties and the administration of the SABC and seven sessions facilitated by the CCMA,” the letter reads.
“On October 6, 2020, during the fifth session facilitated by the CCMA, the commissioners concluded that the parties were not making progress and that each one should exercise their rights.”
“The consulting parties requested another session and although the administration granted them another two sessions, on Friday, October 16, 2020, at the conclusion of the seventh session facilitated by the CCMA, it was clear that after four months of consultations the parties could not reach consensus ”The letter said.
The SABC argued that under the Labor Relations Act, it is now free to unilaterally implement the reductions.
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