Why union is preparing to strike at Unisa and what it is angry about
Nehawu cites wastage and ‘arrogance’ after it deadlocks with management over salary increases
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) announced on Tuesday that it was preparing for a full-blown strike at the University of SA (Unisa) after negotiations over salary increases deadlocked. The union said it had initially placed a demand for a 14% salary increment across the board from November 2016 plus the implementation of the Labour Relations Act amendments for temporary workers. This was declined by the university management, which was offering 6%. "After the deadlock the matter was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration for facilitation, which sat today [Tuesday]. During the facilitation the university management reduced their initial offer from 6% to 4.5%. The union’s view is that this reduction confirms the high level of arrogance and our long-held suspicion that the employer has not been negotiating in good faith‚" Nehawu said. It said the reduced offer had angered members and workers in general "to a point of agitat...
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