The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union faces questions about its dual role as a trade union and major investor in HCI, the corporate group linked through its ownership structure to eNCA. The broadcaster has started a Section 189 consultation process that could affect 171 of its 309 employees as it plans a smaller, digital focused newsroom.
The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) is facing questions over its dual position as a trade union and a major investor in the corporate group ultimately linked to eNCA, where 171 employees face possible retrenchment.
There is no evidence that SACTWU was involved in eNCA’s decision to begin the retrenchment process.
However, the union’s position in the ownership structure — and its failure to respond to questions about the proposed job cuts — has put the spotlight on the potentially competing interests that arise when a trade union is also a significant corporate investor.
eNCA, launched in 2008 as South Africa’s first 24-hour television news channel, is part of eMedia Investments, the broadcasting group behind e.tv, Openview and eNCA.
