The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has threatened strike action should the South
African Broadcasting Agency (SABC) forge ahead with planned retrenchments.
The SABC says that it is in line with the Labour Relations Act and is allowed to implement retrenchments. But the national broadcaster says it will grant unions a final chance to make a written submission over the proposals to the structure or alternatives for its consideration.
Spokesperson for the Broadcast, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) Hannes du Buisson says to prevent retrenchment at the SABC, the public needs to pay for their TV licenses.
du Buisson adds that South Africans have the right to receive information and news in their official language and the SABC has a responsibility to fulfill this right. However, should workers get retrenched this right would not be fulfilled.
The SABC has been in consultation with workers’ representatives over the past four months over its plans to retrench around 600 full-time
employees. This is part of its restructuring aimed at making the organisation financially
sustainable.
