Communication Workers Union (CWU) members were deciding whether to delay their right to strike over a pay dispute with the SABC until after the Confederations Cup, union spokesperson Vulture Ntukuli said on Thursday.
Earlier, the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) gave the CWU and the Media Workers Association permission to strike over their pay dispute and the grievances they have lodged against management.
”We received a certificate from the CCMA which will allow us to go on a protected strike, if we choose to do that,” said Ntukuli.
However, he said that Ismail Vadi, the chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications, which oversees SABC matters, asked them to hold off on a strike until the end of the international soccer spectacle under way in South Africa.
The CWU has previously said some of its members, who are part of the technical and production teams working on the match broadcasts, might go on strike to highlight their concerns.
They had a meeting with Vadi on Tuesday, where he raised his concerns about the potential embarrassment to the country if they were to strike during the Confederations Cup, said Ntukuli.
In turn they gave Vadi their grievances and proposals. They were told he would get back to them on Friday.
Vadi and his committee are due to meet the SABC board later on Thursday to discuss the crisis at the broadcaster, which includes not being able to pay production houses and the resignation of most of its board members.
Ntukuli said in addition to rejecting the 8,5% revised salary offer the SABC presented at the CCMA earlier this week, they also wanted the executive to be replaced and for an inquiry and audit to be conducted. — Sapa