Creative Workers Union has released a media statement supporting fed up Generations actors who are allegedly striking due to an unhappy production contract.
Leading actors including Sophie Ndaba, Katlego Danke, Anga Makubalo, Menzi Ngubane, Zenande Mfenyana, Mandla Gaduka, Winnie Modise and Maggie Bennedict are supported by Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA).
CWUSA, outraged by the arrogance of Generations executive producer, Mfundi Mvundla says: “The Creative Workers Union of South Africa, is deeply disturbed by the media reports that reflect the highest level of arrogance in the manner in which Mfundi Mvundla has responded on the issue of the actors’ strike.
In the Sowetan, Mvundla was quoted saying: “I feel like a gun has been held to my head, because there is no way I will give people extended contracts without clauses.”
The contract stipulated clauses in which Mvundla had the right to fire actors if they under-performed.
The statement released by the union further states:
We are appalled by the autocratic approach that seeks to reverse even the gains of our recent and highly publicized engagement with SABC on the matter of decent contracts that provide certainty for creative workers and in this instance, being the actors.
CWUSA was party to the drafting of the existing contracts for actors and if there is a need to amend the contents and the outlook of the contract, why are we now not party to the alterations? We ought to be directly involved in that process and not to be treated as spectators.
We reject with contempt the top-down approach exercised by Mfundi Mvundla and the arguments made by him in favour of the imposed changes on the contracts.
We call upon the SABC to do the honourable thing, display leadership and call all the affected stakeholders into a joint sitting.
We believe that it is high time that SABC and its stakeholders must decisively confront this great lack of transformation especially in the part of creative workers who have been and still continue to be subjected to these unjust conditions of being permanent casual workers.
We call upon the SABC viewers to support the actors’ course towards:
1. Their liberation from exploitative work conditions,
2. Improved terms and conditions of their contractual obligations,
3. Long contractual terms to afford them equal access to financial and other credit benefits,
4. Equitable employment with long serving actors accumulating some form of ownership and social benefits like retirement packages,
5. Access to training and developmental programmes through subsidization,
6. Protective measures and standardized procedures concerning resolving of disputes, disciplinary hearings and appeals between actors and producers.
We trust that SABC will act speedily in resolving these matters through an all inclusive and interactive engagement with all stakeholders.
Unions involved in Generations actors' plea
Creative Workers Union has released a media statement supporting fed up Generations actors who are allegedly striking due to an unhappy production contract.
Leading actors including Sophie Ndaba, Katlego Danke, Anga Makubalo, Menzi Ngubane, Zenande Mfenyana, Mandla Gaduka, Winnie Modise and Maggie Bennedict are supported by Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA).
CWUSA, outraged by the arrogance of Generations executive producer, Mfundi Mvundla says: “The Creative Workers Union of South Africa, is deeply disturbed by the media reports that reflect the highest level of arrogance in the manner in which Mfundi Mvundla has responded on the issue of the actors’ strike.
In the Sowetan, Mvundla was quoted saying: “I feel like a gun has been held to my head, because there is no way I will give people extended contracts without clauses.”
The contract stipulated clauses in which Mvundla had the right to fire actors if they under-performed.
The statement released by the union further states:
We are appalled by the autocratic approach that seeks to reverse even the gains of our recent and highly publicized engagement with SABC on the matter of decent contracts that provide certainty for creative workers and in this instance, being the actors.
CWUSA was party to the drafting of the existing contracts for actors and if there is a need to amend the contents and the outlook of the contract, why are we now not party to the alterations? We ought to be directly involved in that process and not to be treated as spectators.
We reject with contempt the top-down approach exercised by Mfundi Mvundla and the arguments made by him in favour of the imposed changes on the contracts.
We call upon the SABC to do the honourable thing, display leadership and call all the affected stakeholders into a joint sitting.
We believe that it is high time that SABC and its stakeholders must decisively confront this great lack of transformation especially in the part of creative workers who have been and still continue to be subjected to these unjust conditions of being permanent casual workers.
We call upon the SABC viewers to support the actors’ course towards:
1. Their liberation from exploitative work conditions,
2. Improved terms and conditions of their contractual obligations,
3. Long contractual terms to afford them equal access to financial and other credit benefits,
4. Equitable employment with long serving actors accumulating some form of ownership and social benefits like retirement packages,
5. Access to training and developmental programmes through subsidization,
6. Protective measures and standardized procedures concerning resolving of disputes, disciplinary hearings and appeals between actors and producers.
We trust that SABC will act speedily in resolving these matters through an all inclusive and interactive engagement with all stakeholders.
Don't worry, Generations is still on today, tomorrow and for a few weeks to come at least. Check out a sneak preview of the upcoming episodes
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