A strike by workers at the University of Limpopo will continue until management makes a new wage offer, their union said on Wednesday.
”National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [Nehawu] members are ready for mediation to be facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration as a way to resolve the impasse, but as things stand, we are continuing with the strike,” said Nehawu spokesperson Moloantoa Molaba.
The week-long strike by about 450 Nehawu members — who make up about 50% of staff — came after their demands for a 12% wage increase were not met.
The university has already implemented its 7% offer.
”The benefits and salaries were last increased in 1996. Management is offering only 7% without any commitment to review the working conditions and benefits,” said Molaba.
University spokesperson Kgalema Mohuba said no classes have been disrupted by the strike.
The vice-chancellor and senior managers at the university returned to work on Wednesday after striking workers escorted them off the campus on Tuesday.
Mohuba said Nehawu members were served with a court interdict preventing them from interfering with the executive, staff and students.
”We are hoping from the management side we will have a speedy resolution. The management is not prepared to move on the 7% given our financial situation.”
Available money needs to be spent on renovating university residences, academic programmes and ”learning support”, not only on salaries.
Taking inflation into account, Mohuba said, 7% is ”more than generous”.
He said the two parties are due to meet for talks on Monday. — Sapa