Nelson Mandela University ends salary negotiations in tough economic times
Tensions are running high at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) following eight months of fruitless salary negotiations between unions and management which saw more than half the staff boycott an end-of-year farewell function. The dispute centres around NMU providing notice, via e-mail, on November 27 of its intention to terminate the 2012 Conditions of Service and Benefits Agreement. The collective agreement provides‚ among other things‚ a formula used at the university during annual wage negotiations. The agreement saw staff previously receiving an annual increase of between 8% and 12%. The decision to terminate the agreement followed eight months of unresolved salary negotiations with NMU then taking the decision to terminate it "as the terms of the agreement have proved to be no longer sustainable"‚ NMU spokesperson Zandile Mbabela said. "[The termination of the agreement] is based on the need to be financially prudent at a time when the university has a budget deficit of R68m and‚...
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