EWN reports that negotiations between the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and the University of South Africa (Unisa) are still deadlocked amid an ongoing strike for wage increases.  

The institution has upped its salary offer from 6.5% to 7%.  But, the union has rejected the offer, saying it won’t accept anything less than 12%.  It is also demanding that Unisa should absorb all contract workers with immediate effect.  Nehawu’s Khaya Xaba stated that the university did not honour meeting with the workers on Friday, but went to court seeking to nullify the strike.  “The court ruled against them in nullifying the strike and said the strike is protected and legal.  It also ruled that we cannot intimidate people or block the gates; we remain adamant that 12% is what will end the strike.”  As the strike has affected applications and registration processes for 2018 academic year, the university has extended the deadline for applications to 23 January and for registrations to 30 January.

• Read this report by Koketšo Motau at EWN

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