Dear Members
The courage of CWU and MWASA members in defending their mandate was second to none! The SABC is now already a much better place to work than a scant few months ago. Rule by fear and division is on the decline, and Worker Unity on the rise. Viva!
For now, because so much time has passed, we have to temporarily end the suffering of so many families due to shockingly low salaries. Our leaders have rightly now been mandated to take what is being offered for the time being, without prejudicing our rights.
Here are the methods used by the SABC to fatigue our members into signing:
1. Gross and illegal short payment of 12.2%, causing mounting debts, as food inflates 16%.
2. Neglect by all to consider a scientific strategy of Closing the Wage Gap.
3. Illegally taking away the right to do extra work for other departments to make ends meet.
4. Illegally stopping selling of leave.
5. Dishonoring an agreement made 3 years ago to increase housing, food subsidy, gym subsidy and much more.
6. The members dedication to providing the public with continuous service, even under the most trying conditions.
It was a long, hard fight, and we made BIG gains.
We could have fared better had we prioritised our relationship with other unions and freelancer organisations, as they did manage to keep some services going in the short term. We have no doubt that a longer period of witholding our labour would prove that the SABC can not do without us in the long run - we are specialists in what we do.
That is proven by how hard we currently work to catch up, and fix the mess the freelancers made in just two days.
EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR:
We ask that a better way forward be vigorously debated here, so that all the reasons for this years no-so-good result, not be repeated next year.
Please do not hold back - it is better to debate sensibly here than on the SABC corporate e-mail.
Please encourage all members to join this debate - it is essential that we all learn from mistakes of the past, and build a better future for all of us, strenghthened by experience. VIVA!
Please make constructive comments, and use the voting facility.
Make ALL the selections FIRST - then only press "vote" (YOU ONLY HAVE ONE VOTE) - to show what you think will work next time round.
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Are you willing to defend the organisational rights of the union?
Can Cde Rian expect a fair hearing from these SABC managers?
By refusing to see our value, the SABC negotiators are:
Who currently keeps the SABC on air?
SEF has convinced Jane Duncan (freedom of expression champion) to accept our nomination, only if it comes from us
The counter proposal is:
Should CWU/MWASA refer the "agreement" signed by "SMS ballot" to CCMA for adjudication?
The letter to SABC Board is hereby:
Who can save the SABC?
What is the main reason you will strike?
What should the Minister do to stop the strike?
Who should we negotiate with?
Important Vote - Build the SABC
When you vote on this blog, your views are seen by the Minister, New Board, Exco, SMF, SOS campaign, TVIEC, ICASA, and the owners - the People of South Africa.
ONLY VOTE ONCE!, When it is the square tickboxes, first select ALL the blocks you agree with, then press "Vote".
ONLY VOTE ONCE!, When it is the square tickboxes, first select ALL the blocks you agree with, then press "Vote".
This whole fiasco is squarely to be blamed on the SABC EXCO, whose attempts to hide their own greed and corruption has caused untold suffering among staff.
ReplyDeleteWhy was it first necessary to strike before they brought in the external auditors?
How can a incompetent people cause so much damage, and why do union leaders insist to "negotiate" with corrupt an nasty people?
I say we declare yet another dispute - over the right thing this time. Victimisation and discrimination.
For as long as the SABC is filled with incompetent deployees of Mbeki, they will keep taking as much advantage of us as they can. We must never surrender to them. They must be rooted out. Go to the auditors, keep copies of what you submit to them, and give it to Shop Steward as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's a funny thing that if the Board force us to take our accumulated leave, it could close the SABC more effectively than a strike ever did! Most especially in sections with shift workers, ie. broadcasting, which is what we are supposed to be doing.
ReplyDeleteRight on, cde. It is important that the value of shift workers now be tested. Double pay for all shifts that is not published by the 15th of the previous month (policy) - or bust!
ReplyDeleteAnd there we saw CWU and MWASA shaking hands with Management yesterday - it was shown on TV News yesterday. And you guys are not in bed with Management ... tell us another story!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow did our leaders (negotiating team) come to accept the 2.2% discount? Why did they accept the 8.5% now and the 1.5% later without negotiating the 2.2% at a later stage?
ReplyDeleteWe have just told the SABC that YES it's ok, we do not really need the 2.2%. We will settle for 10% because YOU said so. To the SABC I say, thank you for exposing our leaders for what they are. To our leaders, what the hell were you thinking?
If Cde Rian was here, it would never have happened this way. The SABC was very clever to suspend him when they did, and now you're going to allow him to be fired just like Janine.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. The problem is there are too much personal and selfish motives with "leaders". "What the hell were they thinking?" - About themselves, of course! Who elected those fools? We did, although I can't remember doing so. It's even worse than Bemawu!
ReplyDeleteNo use belonging to any union. They have absolutely no power. The leaders of all 3 unions have become weak. Pity, but true. Leaders should be willing to walk the talk all the way and our leaders cannot do that.
ReplyDeleteFor next year - please do absolutely nothing. Let's just get whatever Management is prepared to give. At least that will prevent us from looking like fools by picketing, singing and screaming, just to accept what Management wants to give. It will save all of us from embarrassment. I am finished with unions - they are weak and mean nothing.
ReplyDeletewhen are we getting the back pay?
ReplyDeleteYou are a joke, you so-called CWU and MWASA leaders. You accepted the same as the other union. The SABC will never make a profit. Now we getting our money late. Why did we go on strike if you have accepted the same?
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit strong, comrade. Sies man! We hope children do not read this. There was a meeting on Friday, attended by all, where the leaders were mandated to sign, in light thereof that BEMAWU killed of a big piece of bargaining power.
ReplyDeleteIf Thabile does not say his/her say at those official meetings, what can the leaders do? It's too late to complain afterwards. next year, please attend the meeting, and come and talk your filth there.
The backpay will be paid along with salaries at the end of the month. The unions did not want the SABC to incur extra costs for the pay run in the middle of the month.
ReplyDeleteThe SABC will pay our 8.5% backpay for April, May, June and July (4 months) on Tuesday the 18th. We sadly share your frustrations. Rest assured, the CWU and MWASA is growing at great pace now. Many BEMAWU members are now realising how they damaged the SABC staff's bargaining power by pulling out at number 99 again, and are joining us in droves.
ReplyDeleteThe very reason a union exists, is to do effective bargaining. It is not a "law firm" or "legal wise". It is a Bargaining Agent, aimed at stopping exploitation and opening the eyes of the masses to the greed that oppress.
For that reason, the vigilant Shop Stewards of MWASA and CWU will never allow wastage by management again.
Bemawu members who joined CWU should think again. What is the difference between the unions? You ALL had a clear mandate of 12,2% and yet you settled for 8,5%. So, you are all the same. Please never refer to Bemawu as the sell-out union - you are all sell-outs.
ReplyDeleteI also feel let down but what I think is that if you can't hit with a very big stick, management will ignore us. For us, a very big stick is black/silence on air, which I don't believe the 2 unions alone had the power to do.
ReplyDeleteComrade Thabile, when you comment on this blog, please show respect to the other comrades. We understand your anger. We are all angry but we live in a democracy and leaders were mandated by members to accept the 10%.
ReplyDeleteWe have to learn from our mistakes. Let's not look at this as failure but as a learning curb to future negotiations. We have achieved a lot over the last couple of months. I for one have learnt to take a stand against corruption and fraud in the SABC. I watch and question everything in my department to the ire of my management team.
I have also learned that together we can achieve more. I looked at some of my comrades during the picketing and realized the power of unity.
Remember the SABC initially only offered us a mere 5% earlier this year. 10% is a 100% improvement on the innitial offer.
YES I'm mad about the 2.2% discount, YES, I want to blame our leaders, but can you really blame our leaders when our members gave the them the go ahead for the 10%. We have lost 2 days of no pay but we have also gained the respect of the board by exposing corruption in the SABC.
To everyone that stood by CWU until the last moment, I say THANK YOU. We still have a long way to go but we will get there TOGETHER and turn SABC into a place of pride.
The 2 unions are growing at huge pace. Our power will definitely be more next year. it is not BEMAWU we need, but the FREELANCERS. We must convince CWU and MWASA to sign them up via debit orders.
ReplyDeleteI still feel that not only BEMAWU is to blame. The leaders of the other 2 unions did also not take strong leadership. Anyway, this is water under the bridge now. But no union membership ever again for me.
ReplyDeleteIt may not be what you want or hope but it's the best we have. If you give up, it's 2% next year and no-one to fight.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that there are around 5000 active "freelancers" that can keep the SABC services running in the short term. Without fighting that type of casualisation first and fully unionising them, we will not have strong bargaining. We did show that a strike is possible.
ReplyDeleteThat Hannes called the police to try and bust the strike, is loathsome! No-one must ever again be allowed to do that!
When did Hannes phone the police and how do you know he phoned? What proof do you have?
ReplyDeletehttp://bemawu.blogspot.com/2009/07/intimidation.html
ReplyDeleteThere's your proof.