The Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) and the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) on Saturday rejected an SABC offer of a pay increase of 8,25%.
The unions claim in a joint statement that they represented 85% of SABC employees who voted on the issue. They believe that their demand of an increase of 11% plus a R200 improvement on their housing benefit is fair and affordable.
The leaders of the two unions are mandated to meet SABC management on Monday to officially inform them of the rejection and to discuss the way forward, said the statement.
In the meantime the unions also want answers to questions arising from the financial statements in the SABC’s last annual report.
The unions want to know why the remuneration bill for the top three executives go up by more than 21%. They also queried why management consultants has been paid R55-million when SABC top-level executives were ”skilled” personnel who had to be paid on a par with private-sector executives.
Approached for comment, SABC spokesperson Paul Setetse said SABC management was aware that the pay offer had been rejected, but negotiations were continuing and he felt certain that an agreement would eventually be reached.
He declined to comment on the questions posed in the media release, saying that such matters were better discussed around a negotiating table. A debate in the media could easily generate a bad atmosphere in the conference room, he said. – Sapa