CAPE TOWN – The South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC is currently in a meeting with the Broadcast, Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) to discuss the current salaries strike.
Bemawu workers are demanding a 10% salary increase from the SABC. Bemawu has said that they would continue to strike if the SABC board did not meet their demands.
The strike has already impacted and hampered on air production, according to a news house. One of the workers striking said that the new board’s decision to not provide salary increases was a clear insult to workers.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago called the strike action "regrettable". "The SABC urges all employees who are not striking to report for duty, as per their condition of employment. The organisation also calls upon the striking employees not to intimidate their colleagues who will be coming to work and to proceed with their action in a dignified manner."
Kganyago has stated that employees who do not work will not get paid. "The principle of no work, no pay will apply."
Section 27’s Mark Heywood, who is currently striking with workers said that the SABC bosses are affiliated with President Jacob Zuma and continue to make staffers suffer, while stealing money. Bemawu spokesperson Hannes du Buisson said that "The strike is all about a public broadcaster that needs to be free of political interference. We need to be free of board and executive interference. We want to demonstrate to the SABC that staff are fed up."
"The delegation of the board agreed to meet with us yesterday. We thought they would bring some offer to the table, which they did not do. They wanted to restart the negotiations process that would take several weeks or months. We rejected that and insisted the process take place."
On your marks, get ready -
We are ready for the 10% salary hike... otherwise we shall continue striking. #SABCstrike pic.twitter.com/6rfo587sIH
— Tshepiso Moche (@tshepimoche) November 2, 2017