SABC News reports that organised labour has accused the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) of paying lip service to the Labour Relations Act in its drive to push forward with retrenchments.  

This was in response to a statement from the public broadcaster’s Chief Financial Officer to the effect that, despite the delayed 60 day consultation, they would start retrenchments at the beginning of February next year.  The CCMA mediated consultation was due to kick-start on Tuesday but had to be postponed so that unions could consider information packs.  Ahead of the meeting, labour unions complained that the SABC failed to disclose critical information and the CCMA agreed.  The Communication Workers Union (CWU) raised the issue of the skills audit, insisting that this should inform any process going forward.  The unions now have two seven day window periods to consider the information packs and request further particulars.  The process will sit for two days in December before everyone goes on leave.  The December leave period will apparently not be counted into the restarted 60-day consultation period.

• Read the full original report by Candice Nolan at SABC News

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