SABC management says striking employees could face disciplinary action for taking part in an “unprotected strike”.
Workers belonging to union Bemawu went on strike from Thursday morning. They are demanding a 10% salary increase.
However, another workers union, CWU, has since withdrawn its notice to strike.
The SABC board and the two unions have been locked in discussion to try and find a solution to the current impasse.
SABC says those who did not report for work, a ‘no-work no-pay policy’ will apply.
SABC Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says, “We said to Bemawu we believe the procedure they use to go on strike was not properly done. And because of that, we are saying the strike is unprotected. It means we can take you to a disciplinary hearing. And secondly, we are saying for you to have a picket at a workplace, there must be rules of engagement and that’s determined by the Labour Relations Act, which talks about what needs to be done and we say those things were not done.”
However CWU reiterates that if its meeting with the SABC board does not yield a positive outcome for its members they are ready to strike.
CWU General Secretary, Aubrey Tshabalala says their interest is for their members which are the workers at the SABC.
“Ultimately the objective and the goal for the Communication Worker’s Union is to get what workers demand; and if the SABC fails to give us something tangible that we can take to workers for workers to consider, obviously we are going to embark on industrial action that is protected.”
Workers are demanding a 10% salary increase which the SABC says it cannot afford due its current financial situation. The public broadcaster has applied for government guarantee and it’s still awaiting the outcome.
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