Snag for SABC retrenchments but 55+ year-olds still primary target

Boycott today's meeting

MWASA general secretary Tuwani Gumani said yesterday, Tuesday, 12 July 2011, his organisation will boycott today's meeting called by the SABC to explain why the 55-plus-year-old staff must go.

"We challenge the efficacy as well as the opportunity cost of depleting the corporation's institutional memory, repository of knowledge and honed skill for the sole narrow purpose as a cost-saving exercise," Gumani said in a statement issued yesterday.

The union also said it firmly challenges the legality of the offer of a voluntary early severance in the context of 'constructive dismissal' provision of the Labour Relations Court.

Another union, BEMAWU, last week called the SABC move unlawful, warning Auckland Park that it will seek a court interdict if it went ahead with this decision without proper consultation.

Troubled relationship

The SABC, which has had a troubled relationship with the unions, is now torn apart between achieving its target of 'chasing away' 800 employees by 2013 to cut massive costs and face the wrath of unions, and call off the bluff - as the unions put it - and give its 55-plus-year-old staff a much-needed reprieve.

Gumani, who today gave a fresh update on the arbitration case GAJB-9467-11 between MWASA and the SABC regarding the turnaround strategy process, said: "We had appeared before Commissioner Eddie Thlothlalemaje on 15 June 2011.

"The Commissioner used his discretion to direct the parties as he saw fit where he insisted that the parties exchange statements first to be followed by a meeting [held on 11 July 2011], then a 'facilitation' which, if it fails, the matter could be rescheduled for arbitration. We have played along and this is where we are right now."

Gumani said today's meeting and its agenda constitute the subject-matter and demonstrate unequivocally the issue central to the core and purview of the dispute, which is the subject of the communiqué.

Approach the CCMA

MWASA said it will be approaching the CCMA to report the abject failure and collapse of the dispute resolution process as solicited by the SABC and as directed the abovementioned commissioner.

"Our prayer and plea remain the same: the arrest of further implementation of the turnaround strategy initiatives, the reversal of unilateral implemented changes, and the placing of the SABC under 'corporate rescue plan and administration, pending statutory consultation," Gumani said.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago was not available for comment.