The SABC met with disgruntled unions on Monday to discuss the implementation of salary increases.

"We met with unions at noon, who presented their proposals, and we presented ours," the broadcaster's spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said.

"They will now take our proposal to their constituencies and we will take theirs to our constituencies."

The representative unions were the Broadcast Electronic Media and Allied Workers' Union, the Communications Workers Union and the Media Workers Association of SA.

Kganyago said all parties would meet again on Thursday after receiving feedback from those concerned, as well as a mandate on proposals.

SABC group chief executive Gab Mampone told the Sunday Independent at the weekend that the public broadcaster had asked for a R2 billion bailout from the government.

Earlier, a coalition of television workers said it would protest in Johannesburg and Cape Town next week against the money crisis at the SABC.

The Television Industry Emergency Coalition (TVIEC) said the protest was brought about by "arrogant" management.

TVIEC claimed to represent more than 80 percent of local content on air, and said the public broadcaster owed artists, writers and producers millions of rands.

"A protest date has now been set for June 4, 2009," TVIEC said in a statement.

Production companies, industry organisations, unions, friends of the industry, soapie stars, actors and technicians were expected to take part in the action.

The coalition said it held several meetings with the SABC in past months but had not received any "credible feedback".

"Crews and cast are without work, production companies are facing closure and viewers are being cheated of quality programming... Estimates of up to R58-million owed have been made, but it is not possible to confirm this amount as the SABC has been unwilling to reveal the extent of the debt," said the TVIEC.

The SABC is facing a R784-million deficit this year. It had been plagued by in-fighting between its axed CEO Dali Mpofu and its former head of news, Snuki Zikalala, while at least three board members resigned since March.

Kganyago said he was not aware of the TVIEC's planned protest.

"We are finalising a follow-up meeting between them and us. We are trying to find a relevant date for that," he told Sapa.