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SABC staff down tools

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Unions representing workers at the SABC say they will stop at nothing until their demands are met.

Workers affiliated to trade unions Communications Workers Union (CWU)and the Broadcasting, Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) are expected to down tools on Thursday demanding a 10% salary increase. They have rejected the 4.5% tabled by the public broadcaster.

CWU’s Aubrey Tshabalala says they are engaging with all other stakeholders and workers at Sentech and Urban Brew to make sure that SABC does not use them to avoid the impact of the strike.

He says: “What we looking for is for the SABC to respond to our demands before going back to work.”

Bemawu says it also plans to protect the rights of freelancers who are currently working for the SABC.

Bemawu spokesperson, Hannes du Buisson says freelancers have been abused extensively over a number of years.

He says: “Some have been working 15, 20 years but have no medical aid, no pension fund and this is something we said that we will take up again. That is the undertaking from us as labour that those freelancers wil be taken care of.”

Meanwhile SABC Board Chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini has assured South Africans about the broadcaster’s contingency plans to ensure that all radio and television channels are not interrupted during the ANC conference this weekend.

“We as the Board respect the people’s right to embark on a strike. But what we want to communicate to South Africans is that everything has been done to ensure that all our platforms, TV, radio and online remain on air on this historic moment for South Africa.”

 

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