WSU reaches wage agreement with striking Nehawu members

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Walter Sisulu University says the protracted strike by Nehawu staff members came to an end late on Monday.

This was when an agreement was reached between labour and management at the cash-strapped institution.

Nehawu demanded a 12% salary increase for 2012, but accepted management's offer of a once-off 10% increase on the basic salary while also adhering to its original position of a 0% salary increase which would have included benefits.

Walter Sisulu University says any salary increase inclusive of benefits would have had a compounding effect on its present financial position.

The once-off amount of 10% on basic salary will be paid with the September 2012 payroll.

"Other demands contained in the petition handed to Management by Labour will be addressed at special Joint Bargaining Forum meeting to be convened not later than 7 September," said WSU spokesperson, Angela Church.

These demands are: harmonisation of conditions of service; finalisation of leave buy-out; absorption of contract workers; academic promotions; study subsidy payment; teaching and learning infrastructure improvement and payment for research publications."

"As a consequence to the disruption of the academic calendar, operations of the university and loss of academic time for students, a separate agreement on post-strike arrangements was also concluded between Management and Labour."

WSU says with respect to future salary negotiations, management has agreed that negotiations for the 2013 calendar shall cover guaranteed pay inclusive of all benefits.