Press Statement dated 19 November 2018
We, as South African Typographical Union (SATU) are dismayed with how the National Broadcaster has been handling the section 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act processes respectively. We wish to put on record that the SABC is a national entity that has been surrounded by controversy, lack of accountability and transparency. The issues and ills at the SABC were caused by the looting of public resources and its poor management. This is making things worse for the workers and the poor, particularly in this case for the workers who are non-unionized and freelancers.
It is disheartening for a state entity to proudly announce the possible nonpayment of salaries by next March. It is scandalous enough to retrench a few workers but it is blatantly catastrophic to retrench more than 2000 workers who have dependents. As things are, the real economy is in decline, production and manufacturing show no signs of recovery in the short term to medium term. Therefore, it is state owned institutions like SABC that should provide solid and secure employment. Workers at the SABC are constantly unhappy about the working conditions and salary scale. The poor salary scheme provided by the SABC allows employees to just keep their heads above water. We are observing the increase of short-term contracts, seasonal work and other meaningless kinds of employment the SABC has committed itself to. This has got to stop, now!
As SATU we support the total shutdown of the corporation until they listen and co-operate with labour unions. We are here to assist the unorganized and make sure we play a role in closing the stark difference between the pay of executives and regular workers.
The public institutions are on the brink of insolvency because of greed, fraud and biasness of the government.
Issued by Khwezi Smiso Makhathini, Media Liaison Officer, South African Typographical Union (Satu)