Memorandum of demands submitted by the South African Communist Party Gauteng province during a picket at the Gupta owned ANN7 TV in solidarity with workers mercilessly persecuted by the parasitic Gupta dynasty

15 July 2016

We, the members of the South African Communist Party, Gauteng Province, submit this memorandum of demands to the ANN7 Management as stated below on behalf of the Workers Committee, a Forum of workers employed by ANN7.

The Memorandum is submitted without any amendment or change.

Memorandum of Workers Committee at AN7

As employees at ANN7, we have come together to create a forum that aims to address some of our work place grievances. As workers we harbour aspirations about the type of environment that we would like to work in, which should be productive and free of exploitation, prejudice and abuse.

We have tabled some of our grievances below to represent some of the challenges that are faced by workers within the various departments at ANN7.

Salaries

We want pay scales to be implemented by ANN7 to ensure that all employees are paid what fair salaries that are in line with industry standards.

• Increases - Cost of living dictates that CPI-linked increases at the very least, (across the board increase & additional for performance, years served should be taken into account
• Graduates - as professionals, who studied, cannot be earning R4k a month. This is not industry standard and is not living wage.
• People WITHOUT the know how are appointed to senior positions earning massive salaries (esp foreign nationals). This is a genuine concern among workers.
• Overtime/Sunday/Public holiday work should be compensated with cash for hours worked (as opposed to forced compensation with hours). Workers must only be expected to work the legislated 45 hours a week, any work beyond the legally required must be compensated.
• 13th cheque should be given to incentivise employees.
• Increase and bonus scales must be employed. The notice of the increase should be shared with workers in writing with details on how the increase is calculated to ensure fairness.

Communication

There is a lack of communication in the company
The culture at ANN7 is one where there are no mass meetings, departmental meetings or generally any kinds of meetings. As a result of poor communication staff is often uninformed both with their direct and broader working environments.
Line managers refuse to address staff in groups. (Staff is bounced between HR and line managers)

Lack of transparency

Performance Appraisals should be done, at least quarterly to create openness about employee progress. (employees should not be accused of not performing without transparent performance appraisals)

Salary Determination of Grading system should be predictable and hence fair.
Bonuses and increases should be given formally with letters explaining the Gradings.

Foreign Nationals

Initially we were told that the foreign nationals came to help start the channel, assist with digital migration and train interns.

• Today although their original communicated mandate has been fulfilled foreign nationals are still being introduced in the company.
• Foreign nationals occupy unadvertised senior posts.
• Foreign colleagues often do not consult fellow South Africans on content and disregard inputs that are made by locals.
• Foreign nationals also drive the news agenda with no local context.

Discipline

As staff we are concerned that discipline has been enforced by ANN7 management without adequate communication and sufficient observance of labour legislation.
The company must follow proper disciplinary procedure which includes:

• Verbal warnings that are valid for 3 months
• Written warnings that are valid for 6 months
• Final written warnings which are valid for 12 months
• When the time period of the warning lapses, the warning should seize to exist.

In the case that there has been transgression on the part of workers we want to have:
* Fair hearings
* Representation
* A space to be heard, and to lead evidence
* A space to call witnesses
* An opportunity to cross examine witnesses
* Written reasons for decisions
* A space to plead in mitigation
* An appeal in terms of the internal remedies

A total of 133 workers signed to agree to be represented by the workers' committee consisting of elected members from each ANN7 department.

Submitted on behalf of the SACP by: SACP Provincial Chairperson Joe Mpisi

Received on behalf of ANN7 Management by: Gary Naidoo

For more information kindly contact Jacob Mamabolo - SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Mobile: 082 884 1868

Issued by the SACP Gauteng province
Contact:

Jacob Mamabolo - SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 884 1868

Lucian Segami - SACP Gauteng Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: +2779 5220 098
Office: +2711 339 3621/2
Website: www.sacp.org.za
Twitter: GPSACP
Facebook Page: SACP Gauteng Province