The trade federation in a statement condemns the shocking actions of the SABC and MMSV Productions who on Monday fired the Generations cast on SABC1 following a second strike the united actors embarked on.
The dismissal of the principal Generations cast has sent shockwaves through South Africa's television industry.
Generations ranks as the most watched TV show in South Africa with an average of 7.5 million viewers every weeknight, is the most watched soap, the most lucrative TV show of the SABC and commands a price of R200 000 per 30 second ad spot during its 20:00 primetime timeslot.
It was the Generations cast's second strike in 10 months at the SABC1 soap over exactly the same issues of wanting three year contracts from the SABC as it was promised in 2013, better paying contracts, as well as back payment for rebroadcasts and international sales of the show - all issues that the SABC promised to give attention but failed to do.
The federation said it was dismayed by the attitude of the production company MMSV Productions.
"The federation urges the actors to work with them [SABC and production company] to reach an acceptable settlement, get their jobs back, continue to entertain their millions of fans, and create a precedent for all actors to be treated with respect," says Patrick Craven, Cosatu spokesperson in a statement.
