THE Durban University of Technology strike entered its fifth week this week with still no end in sight after management and striking staff remain deadlocked over salary negotiations.
On Tuesday, striking protestors were forbidden to enter the campus and forced to take their demonstrations outside the gates of DUT. Despite the strike, lectures for some programmes did commence this morning, without any interruption. Students are urged to log onto the DUT website to find out which programmes have lectures. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Council at DUT, Wiseman Madinane, is expected to meet with the provincial leadership of NEHAWU later today.
One student interviewed by Berea Mail reporter, Rudy Nkgadima at the scene made a scathing attack on the strikers, calling for them not to receive their February salaries and saying that not only was she wasting her time and her government funding, but that they were hampering her education.
However, a spokesperson for the Crisis Committee made it clear that the strike would continue until such time as their demands were met. He urged the DUT management to come to the table and treat staff “like human beings.”
The University’s communications manager, Noxolo Memela said since the staff strike had taken over 21 working days already (over four weeks to date), a limited reprieve of the no-work-no-pay principle would be proposed. “One week’s pay will not be docked in exchange for one week’s vacation leave and the money for the remaining weeks will be deducted over a period of three months.”
READ RELATED: DUT strike delays academic year
“Students who have not yet registered, can still do so online via the DUT website dut.ac.za , or in person at the Riverside campus in Pietermaritzburg or at one of our registration venues in Durban. Students who require assistance with their 2018 registration can get advice by calling 031 373 5005, alternatively email: info@dut.ac.za during office hours,” Memela added.
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