Union, SABC strike pay deal

Johannesburg - The Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers' Union (Bemawu) accepted the SABC's offer of 8.5% wage increase on Tuesday.

"Today [Tuesday] we signed an agreement with the employer of an 8.5% across the board wage increase," said Bemawu president Hannes du Buisson.

The union declared a dispute with the public broadcaster last month.

Du Buisson said the union had dropped its demands for a R150 housing increment and a meals allowance to trade for a higher wage increase.

"We were given a mandate by members of the union to accept the employer's offer after we explained what was the offer on the table and they accepted it," he said

Bemawu and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) originally wanted a 10% across the board pay rise, as well as a R300 subsistence and travel allowance and R55 for meals.

They filed a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) after the SABC rejected the demand.

It was not known whether the CWU was considering accepting the offer.

"The process of wage negotiations is a give-and-take game and compromises need to be made...we've reached a point where we felt we can accept the employer's offer," said Du Buisson.

Bemawu claimed to represent 1 200 employees.

Du Buisson said the CWU represented about 1 000 workers.

SABC spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago said the broadcaster had signed the agreement with Bemawu and non-unionised workers.

"The SABC is still engaging with CWU and will see what happens going forward," he said.