GEORGE NEWS - Workers of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George campus this week embarked upon a strike relating to a wage dispute.
Their protest action forms part of a wider strike by Nehawu members of the NMU main campus in Gqeberha that started on Monday 26 February.
The union is demanding a wage increase of 8%.
Local shop steward Anathi Masebeni said negotiations had broken down when their wage demand was not acceded to and the university unilaterally implemented an increase of 6,9% for the 2023-2024 financial year.
In a statement on 27 February, the university said the dispute goes back to 2023, when the unions negotiated salary increases with the university.
"Initially 3,1% was budgeted for increases. To meet its obligations in terms of the collective agreements the university had to come up with an additional 3,66%.
"It was able to do this from savings from vacant positions. ... Nehawu rejected the offer. A bilateral meeting was convened between the university and the regional office of Nehawu. At this meeting, an overview of the university’s financial position was presented. This however, failed to persuade Nehawu to accept the offer."
The university said it is, however, currently engaged with the union in a bid to end the strike.
It said it would have been a protected strike, but became illegal because union members at the Gheberha campus prevented staff and students from entering the campus.
This action was outside the terms of the strike agreement. At George campus, picketing took place at the entrance, but entry was not blocked.
In the meantime, the university was seeking an interdict from the Labour Court to prohibit actions from taking place outside of the parameters of the approved protected strike.
Disruption compels NMU students to online teaching
On the student front, the university also faces challenges. Last week, the George campus had decided to move to online teaching from Monday 19 February as a precautionary measure following disruption of classes by students at the Gqeberha campus.
Lectures have in the meantime returned to normal.
The protest action was in reaction to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) being slow in releasing student information and allowances. This impacted registration, accommodation and student hunger, leading to the disruptions, according to the university.
The university said in a statement on 20 February that it was consistently engaged with the relevant stakeholders and had implemented a number of temporary and emergency measures to address students' concerns.
Students who are still unregistered for various reasons, are expected to be registered before the closure of late registration.
"Many staff members, as well as the CSRC, have worked tirelessly for the benefit of the students and remain committed to resolving outstanding challenges," said the university.
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