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SABC workers will “unplug the tools” on Friday at 12 pm, as the management has not accepted the demands of the Communication Workers Union to end the dismissal process.
The union’s general secretary, Aubrey Tshabalala, confirmed the strike Thursday in an interview on the SABC SA Today news program. CWU, an affiliate of Cosatu, had given SABC management until 5:00 p.m. Thursday to accept their demands. Taking down tools would essentially amount to a programming blackout.
The strike will take place at SABC outlets across the country, Tshabalala said. Workers will be protected, he said. A memorandum will be delivered to the representatives of the SABC. The union also wants the station to be run, as it does not believe the board is “properly governed,” Tshabalala said.
Staff had participated in pickets at lunchtime on Thursday.
The SABC was thrown into confusion earlier this week, as staff had refused to agree to downsizing notices being sent to 400 of their colleagues. The downsizing process is part of plans to restructure the station and reduce costs. On Tuesday, the news division’s management had withdrawn the notices when staff threatened to cut broadcasts and leave. However, the next day, staff were notified that the downsizing process would continue.
Meanwhile, the Union of Broadcasting, Electronics, Media and Allied Workers (Bemawu) has also filed an application with the labor court to intercept the downsizing process. According to the president of Bemawu, Hannes du Buisson, the SABC had not sufficiently consulted the unions on the process. SABC management has denied this, saying it exceeded legislative requirements.
Before CWU announced the strike, SABC’s group human resources executive, Dr. Mojaki Mosia, appeared on SA Today, stating that management could not act against the board’s resolution; would amount to insubordination. However, he said that management had taken note of the unions’ request. Mosia said SABC workers had the option of selecting voluntary severance packages or the early retirement offer, to minimize the number of employees affected by s189.
