The SABC Board has lashed out at the Communications Workers Union (CWU), saying the accusations it made of a R650-million pay-out to the SABC Interim Board are not true.
The union said the pay-out was made despite the public broadcaster’s budgetary constraints.
The SABC will on Monday morning meet with the CWU and Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) to continue discussions on the unions’ demands of a 10% wage increase.
Current Board member who is the former Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Board, Mathata Tsedu says, “The SABC Board served for six months not eight like he said. At the beginning when we arrived there was chaos financially and we said we would be fair with the Board fees. When our term ended we said we should be paid out and that amount was R3.9 million for 99 meetings that were held during those six months.”
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union says it has served the SABC with a notice of intention to strike on Wednesday.
Wage negotiations between the SABC and trade union CWU and Bemawu are expected to continue on Monday.
It has been reported that the SABC is offering a 4.5% salary increase to its staff.
However, the unions are demanding a 10% salary increase.
CWU president Clyde Mervin says, “We have served the SABC with notice of a strike which will commence on the 13th. Unfortunately during the process we saw an invite which will take place today at 9am and we have our own meeting at 11am with our members.”
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Mathata Tsedu:
BEMAWU and SABC management will meet on Monday afternoon at the public broadcaster’s head offices in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
The meeting is in an attempt to reach an agreement on their dispute over wage negotiations. A CMMA commissioner will facilitate the meeting. Should an agreement not be reached, the CCMA will issue a certificate for a protected strike.
