SABC to retrench 800 employees - unions

The public broadcaster said this forms part of its new operating model, meant to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.

"Turning around the SABC requires that the company make significant savings on the total employee compensation cost," the letter said, adding that the SABC prefers that no forced entrenchments should be embarked upon, and rather investigates the other options such as early retirements and voluntary separations.

Not related to individual performance

The letter, signed by head of strategy and acting group executive for human capital services Justice Ndaba, said the proposed reduction in headcount is in no way related to individual performance, but has to do with the realities of returning the SABC to profitability and productivity as a public broadcaster.

Broadcasting lobby group SOS Coalition (@SOS_ZA) hosted a meeting last night, Wednesday, 6 July 2011, at Atlas Studios in Johannesburg to discuss the latest SABC crises. The meeting was chaired by COSATU spokesperson Patrick Craven.

Ndaba, who attended that meeting, said his organisation has managed to save R121 million under the current vacancy management programme.

The SABC also said it will soon provide details of affected employees' severance benefits to organised labour and affected employees. The headcount reduction is due to start in July 2011 and will be completed by 2013.

Union to challenge 'unlawful' decision

But, this looks easier said than done, as at least one union intends challenging what it describes as an 'unlawful' decision.

BEMAWU president Hannes du Buisson told Bizcommunity last night that if the public broadcaster continues with this process, his union will mostly probably seek an interdict because the operating model the corporation is talking about has not been discussed with the unions.

"And we will do that in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act," an incensed Du Buisson said, speaking on the sidelines of the SOS meeting.

Section 189a stipulates that, when an employer contemplates dismissing one or more employees for reasons based on the employer's operational requirements, the employer must consult any person whom the employer is required to consult in terms of a collective agreement. Furthermore, Section 189 (13) says if an employer does not comply with a fair procedure, a consulting party may approach the Labour Court by way of an application for an order.

"Why can't we strike a balance about this?"

"Staff are very worried about their jobs," du Buisson told the meeting. "And this headcount reduction is not applying to senior management who are still being appointed. Why can't we strike a balance about this?"

MWASA secretary general Tuwani Gumani, who did not want to look at the letter as it would make him angrier, said what the public broadcaster needs is to be put in ICU (intensive care unit), instead of being given pedicure and manicure and hairs dos.

"Turnaround strategy, from what? Over the years, nobody has sat down to say this is the real problem the SABC is facing. The interests of the workers are very critical and this is a creative industry. You cannot get milk if the cow is dead."

The SABC, which has had a very difficult relationship with the unions, has been often been lambasted for not communicating openly and properly. "We are all stakeholders here and representatives of the media and I ask myself, 'Why can't we meet with the board on a regular basis?" du Buisson lamented.