The Federations of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has written an urgent letter to Higher Education and Training Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize asking her to intervene in the five week wage negotiations impasse at the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

Tertiary education sector workers united under the banner of FEDUSA affiliated trade unions, the Tertiary Education National Union of South Africa (TENUSA) and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU); and COSATU’s National Health Education and Allied Workers Union (NEHAU) were allowed to down tools on January 15 demanding a 10% increase on basic wages, a R400 housing allowance increase and a R9000 once off bonus payable in December last year as a 14th cheque.

However these demands were rejected by management who tabled a final offer of 6.5% instead, and has also obtained an interim court interdict against the unions ordering them to file an answering affidavit by 13 March 2018 furnishing reasons about why the interdict should not be made final. In the interim the parties remain deadlocked.

“It is absolutely tragic that the academic processes at DUT commenced on such a rocky footing just yesterday (13 February 2018), with the majority of classes being suspended as a result of the deadlock. Whilst FEDUSA affiliated personnel from TENUSA and NTEU continue to endure hard line negotiations for a decent living wage, it looks like management remains totally ignorant of the plight of students,” said FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George.

“FEDUSA would therefore like to appeal for your urgent intervention in your capacity as minister of higher education and training, to ensure that a speedy resolution is facilitated and finalised as a matter of priority. The federation remains a staunch advocate of social dialogue and is of the opinion that your direct involvement in the matter will reverse the regressive stance that has overshadowed this process at DUT”.

 

Issued by FEDUSA