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Wits reaches agreement on outsourcing
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University says that it has agreed to insourcing on principle.
Wits University released a statement late on 1 November, saying that it reached an agreement with workers and students about outsourcing.
Professor Tawana Kupe, deputy vice chancellor of Transformation, Human Resources and Advancement said the following:
“Following two days of engagement with the representatives of outsourced workers and students, the University has agreed to the following:
- Wits agrees to insourcing in principle.
- A commission will be established to determine the details of how insourcing can be undertaken in a financially sustainable manner.
- In the upcoming week, the workers’ representatives, students, academics and management will determine who will serve on the commission. The representatives will report on the progress of establishing the commission on 6 November 2015.
- The Commission will negotiate the contents of a proposed Workers Charter.
- A Memorandum of Understanding on the way forward will be drafted.
- The children of outsourced workers who qualify to study at Wits, will receive financial aid from the University.
- The R1 500 examination supplementary fee will be waived.
- Qualifying, financially-stressed final year students in 2015 who owe R15 000 or less, will not be required to pay this amount in order to graduate, as this may prevent them from finding a job.
- It is proposed that the examination period be postponed for one week. It will run from 9 November 2015 to 4 December 2015. This is subject to approval from Senate, the highest academic decision-making body of the University.
“The University is of the view that through engagement with various stakeholder groups, we have reached a point of unification that will allow the University to return to normality with a focus on the examinations for the remainder of the year.”
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