SBS workers oppose job cuts

By Steve Rossi

SYDNEY — Only weeks after signing an enterprise agreement, employees at SBS Radio and Television were told last week that 10% of staff (about 68 people) would shortly be given involuntary redundancy notices. SBS news and current affairs operations would also be greatly cut back.

All this is because of an "expected 2% cut in federal funding", staff were told by managing director Malcolm Long. He also said there would be no room for a program of voluntary redundancies.

A well-attended meeting of Community and Public Sector Union and Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance members at SBS here on July 11 totally rejected management's attempt to force through these cuts. Staff demanded that management comply fully with clauses in the enterprise agreement, including that any proposed changes be provided in writing to the unions for consultation.

They also rejected all forced redundancies and the targeting of individuals, and demanded a joint union-management review to ensure that any budget shortfall would not impact on the quality of SBS broadcasting, that areas of financial waste be identified and that SBS management structures be improved.

On July 15, the Industrial Relations Commission blocked, for the moment, any involuntary redundancies at SBS, even though management argued that sacking 10% of staff was not "significant workplace change" under the terms of the enterprise agreement. The IRC ordered management to "actively seek voluntary redundancies" before the case is heard again on July 22.

The quality of SBS services will be profoundly affected by a $4 million cut. Nevertheless, the CPSU leaders did not question the job cuts as such. Instead they said, "Union members should cooperate with the voluntary redundancy process".

From GLW issue 239