DUT strike suspended as negotiations resume
"The strike is going to be suspended and academic work will resume while negotiations also resume."
CLASSES are expected to resume next week at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), following a successful intervention by the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), Deputy Minister of Higher Training and Education Minister Buti Manamela and other organized formations, on Tuesday.
The news came as a welcome relief to the more than 28 000 students registered at the University.
The seven-week strike, staged by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the Tertiary Education National Union of SA (Tenusa) brought all activities at the University to a halt.
According to Trade Union FEDUSA, its affiliates TENUSA and NTEU agreed to a framework of talks that will be led by the CCMA and will centre around management not lowering their current offer of 6.5% and unions not increasing their current demand of 8.5% with a housing allowance increase of between R200 and R400.
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“While the principle of no work, no pay will form part of negotiations, it was agreed to clear confusion that arose from the application of the rule which resulted in some workers who were either on leave or were not taking part in strike, having their salaries docked. A successful implementation of the framework agreement will lead to the suspension of the seven-week-old strike and the resumption of the academic programme on 1 March 2018.”
“Classes will resume by the end of the week. Registration will be finalized as soon as possible. Final details will be made public as soon as the unions report back to members.” said the Union.
Pleased with the outcome, Manamela said he was hopeful that negotiations would be wrapped up and lectures would resume within the week. “Before the end of the week we will see our kids back in class,” he said.
“This is a breakthrough of all the parties involved. They came into the meeting on Tuesday with an open mind. A lot of people said we needed to intervene‚ but we could only do so with the agreement of all the parties. As soon as all the parties agreed to the framework of talks to be led by the CCMA, strike action was suspended and it was agreed that academic work would resume from Thursday, 1 March, while the three-day negotiations are underway,” said Manamela.
The implementation of the no-work-no-pay principle will form part of the negotiations. The three variables across the board increases, housing allowance and the once-off bonus will be the focus of the mediation process.
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