STRIKE THREAT
Habib calls for compromise as staff rejects Wits wage offer
Wits’ offer of a 6.8% increase is the second-highest offer in the higher education sector, says vice-chancellor
University of the Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Adam Habib on Wednesday urged labour unions to exercise restraint in their wage demands, saying the institution had a responsibility to ensure that salary increases did not compromise the university’s financial stability. "My call is for all role players to start looking at the bigger picture and ... compromise," the vice-chancellor said. Wits’ offer of a 6.8% increase was the second-highest offer in the higher education sector, and was 1.8% points above inflation, he said. Wits is grappling with the demands of four unions that are now threatening to strike over disagreements about salary increases, the university’s new performance management system and medical aid benefits. The unions on Wednesday agreed to enter into talks with management facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), a development that means a threatened strike from Monday is now on hold. Staff belonging to the Academic Staff Assoc...
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