JOHANNESBURG – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) wants viewers to take part in a week long “switch off” of South African soap opera Generations, general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Tuesday.
“The campaign therefore has to be taken to a new level,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.
“What you cannot win through negotiation. You have to win on the streets.”
The switch-off would start on 15 September and include repeats and the weekend omnibus. The campaign would include pickets and sending letters to the ministers of communication, labour, arts and culture, and trade and industry.
Sixteen Generations actors were fired on 18 August for going on strike over a wage dispute.
Thirteen of these actors attended the media briefing.
Vavi said the COSATU and the Creative Workers Union of SA agreed to campaign for the actors’ demands.
These demands included a reduction of working hours to 10, social benefits, an end to inconsistencies in remuneration, for the SABC to pay royalties, and better working conditions.
“Media reports that Generations actors earned an average of M55 000 a month is nonsense,” Vavi said.
“Generations made a profit of R500 million in one financial year, but failed to pay royalties calculated over 11 years… that is blatant robbery,” he said. – Sowetan.
