COSATU condemns both ANN7 and the SABC for unfairly dismissing and suspending workers
27 June 2016
The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns the dismissal of eight {8} ANN7 employees for rejecting and chasing away the ANCYL President Collen Maine from their offices in Midrand. This is an unacceptable and blatant ill-treatment of workers and we demand their immediate reinstatement. Workers cannot lose their jobs and subsequently their livelihoods because someone’s ego was bruised. Politicians are not primary stakeholders in workplace matters ,and no employee should be coerced and bullied into embracing politicians and political interventions in the workplace against their will.
The decision by ANN7 is quite unpardonable because they have dismissed and victimised the very same workers that they accused the banks of victimising. Their actions put into question their commitment to genuinely protecting the workers and their livelihoods.
The federation is uncompromisingly opposed to bullying and intimidation of workers by employers. The Company has reneged on its commitment that it made in a meeting with COSATU to improve the working conditions after the 12th National Congress voted them as the worse employers.
We can only conclude that they were never genuine in improving their poor record as employers, and we will ensure that they do not get away with this irresponsible behaviour.
COSATU also condemns the SABC’s decision to suspend employees that have raised concerns with regard to its decision not to broadcast the destruction of property during protests. The SABC ought to be the voice of the South African people, informing, educating and entertaining all our communities and reflecting the diversity of our cultural, linguistic, political, religious, sporting and social heritage. We expect the public broadcaster to deepen its accountability to its audiences and to the general public by being transparent in its activities.
COSATU is calling on the oversight and policy-making structures of the SABC - Parliament, Department of Communication and ICASA to take their role seriously and strengthen their internal structures and mechanisms to oversee an SABC that will have the trust and confidence of the citizens. No institution can survive the governance by decree and where dissent and robust engagements are outlawed.
Issued by Sizwe Pamla, National Spokesperson, COSATU, 27 June 2016
