This follows its announcement last week that it had agreed with labour unions to up its pay increase offer from 8.5% to 10%.<\/p>\n
Charnley said the board had investigated whether it would be able to sustain the extra 1.5%.<\/p>\n
“That is why we are proposing to the unions that the 1.5% be effectively implemented by December this year and backdated to April,” she said.<\/p>\n
Harsh cost-cutting measures had been implemented to ensure the broadcaster did not overspend, including board members forfeiting some of their privileges.<\/p>\n
These included board members forfeiting household appliances such as cable television.<\/p>\n
“We do not want that privilege… we already have such televisions in our house, the board accepted a loan laptop, G3 card and phone, that is all,” she said.<\/p>\n
Charnley said board members would fly economy class and not business class, which was part of their privilege package.<\/p>\n
As a cost cutting measure, the board had put a halt on conferences and seminars.<\/p>\n
Flanked by interim board members Libby Lloyd, Susan Vos and acting chief executive officer Gab Mampone, Charnley said the board had not taken a decision on closing the international bureaux.<\/p>\n
“We are not closing them… we are checking on how much they cost us to run. We will thereafter consult organised labour if they should be closed.”<\/p>\n