Johannesburg — TELEVISION broadcasts of Confederations Cup matches are safe from disruptions threatened by trade unions in a dispute with the broadcaster.

The Confederations Cup ends on Sunday, and the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) had warned that a strike could disrupt TV coverage of the event.

The SABC had sought an urgent interim order to prevent workers from striking after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) issued a certificate of dispute between the SABC and its unions.

Under a multiyear agreement, the SABC was supposed to implement a wage hike of CPIX plus 1%, which is 12,2%, for employees as from April 1.

But the SABC's financial crisis -- in which it lost R839m after tax for the year to March -- has been accompanied by a cash flow squeeze and the broadcaster has not implemented the salary hike.

CWU representative Vulture Ntuluki said the SABC changed its arguments in court yesterday, asking instead for a permanent order.

The broadcaster argued that there was an existing multiyear agreement in place and that the CCMA had issued the certificate erroneously, Ntuluki said.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said he could not confirm this.

The CWU and the Media Workers' Association of SA have agreed not to strike until the court gives judgment next Friday.

The Broadcast, Electronic Media and Allied Workers' Union (Bemawu) cannot strike unless the other two unions strike, as it has framed its dispute differently.

Bemawu president Hannes du Buisson said the postponement was frustrating. If the SABC had applied for a permanent order preventing unions from striking, this would be a serious infringement on employees' right to strike in the event of a salary dispute, he said.

The public broadcaster has also struggled to pay independent producers, which it owes R60m.

Judge Irene Nyathela said she would need time to consider all arguments. She extended the order preventing unions from striking.