News24 reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) announced on Saturday that the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) would be stepping in to help facilitate possible retrenchments at the public broadcaster.
This followed a meeting between unions and management on Friday where it was agreed that the notice that there might be retrenchments was put in abeyance until such time as further information that the unions had asked for was made available. But this apparently does not mean the process has stopped. SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu said on Saturday: "The SABC confirms that the Section 189 process is still underway and will comply with all the legal requirements in consulting all stakeholders, as the parties continue to seek consensus on possible means to avert retrenchments." Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act allows for companies to retrench employees and sets out how it must be carried out. In September, Group CEO Madoda Mxakwe said in a letter to staff that the decision to retrench formed part of cost cutting. In August, MPs heard that the SABC was close to R700m in debt.
- Read this report by Jenni Evans in full at News24
- See too, SABC, unions head to CCMA over possible retrenchments, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page