JOHANNESBURG – SABC employees who went on a wage strike on Thursday has vowed to shut down the public broadcaster if authorities fail to comply and meet their demands.
They are demanding a 10% salary hike which dates back six months ago, and have blamed the public broadcaster for making empty promises.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) say the 4.5 percent increase offered by the public broadcaster in an “insult” and they will not take it.
The strike which has already affected morning current affairs programming at three stations according to authorities, shows no signs of ending soon as proceedings seem tenser than expected.
“We are tired of empty promises, last time, sometime in June they promised that they will consider our 10% salary increase, but now they are saying they can’t afford to do so, we will not take the 4.5 percent they are offering and we are very ready to shut down the broadcaster,” said one angry Bemawu member.
Others also highlighted that they work over hours but the public broadcaster is failing to return the favour of their hardwork.
SABC authorities and Union leaders are expected to meet today as they plan the way forward.
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