SABC crippled by industrial action

Johannesburg (IT News Africa) —THE strike by South African Broadcasting Corporation workers has affected normal programming this morning with broadcaster’s flagship Morning Live programme starting 40 minutes late.

The Union has in recent days threatening the beleaguered broadcaster with strike owing to a deadlock over salaries. CWU is demanding a 12.2 percent increase while the Auckland Park-based SABC is offering an 8.5 percent pay hike.

Yesterday, the members of the CWU in both Telkom and SABC told IT News Africa that they have run out of patience and requested their national leadership to allow them to bring forward to today the Strike Program of Action against their employers.

“Resultant from this legitimate anger, CWU members in the SABC will be “Staying Away” from work on the 29th and 30th of July 2009 countrywide. Our leadership welcomes this show of militancy and worker control principle by the members of our organization. The two day stay away will be followed by other forms of industrial action from the beginning of August 2009 till the SABC respect and implement the multi-term salary agreement,” said Gallant Roberts, CWU general secretary.

“CWU and its members are determined to force the “Public Broadcaster” to respect agreements and priorities workers plight to win back the much needed loyalty and dedication the employer need from its employees.”

By Mthulisi Sibanda