SABC: Union Lotus FM demands are ‘unreasonable', 'unlawful'

The broadcaster says in its statement that the union's demands are unreasonable and unlawful because the concerns raised by Bemawu on behalf of its members were addressed and investigated by management. A disciplinary hearing was conducted whereby Samuels was given a final warning.

The statement says that Samuels pleaded guilty during the hearing and took responsibility, as station manager, for matters that her own managers had not addressed and it would be “unfortunate” if Lotus FM employees decide to go on strike over issues that management has been dealing with and are still willing to engage the union on, as per the outcome of the CCMA conciliation process held in Durban last Thursday, 16 July.

The statement also confirms that the SABC received a notice of a pending strike by Bemawu members. It is due to begin tomorrow, 21 July 2009 at 2pm, and the broadcaster says that should the threatened strike go ahead, it will have “no option but to take appropriate action to ensure that there is uninterrupted broadcast at Lotus FM”. It also reiterated that striking workers will not be paid while they are on strike and that any misconduct “will be dealt with accordingly”.

The broadcaster's statement concludes with what is says is not a threat, but merely notice of one of its legal recourses, and that is the option to apply for an interdict should a strike become disorderly and “threaten the peaceful order and the stability of the station”.