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The Sunday Independent reports that the impasse between the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) at colleges continues, with the strike over salaries and working conditions having entered its second week.
On Friday, some technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and community education and training (CET) colleges in Soweto were empty, with only a skeleton staff and a few students on the premises. Meantime, the department said it remained committed to finding a solution to issues raised by the union. Yet, talks between Higher Education Minister Naledi Pandor and union leaders broke down earlier in the week when Nehawu demanded that the director-general, Gwebinkundla Qonde, not be part of the meeting. Among the union’s demands is the removal of Qonde, the transfer of all college-paid lecturers into the government pay system, employment of lecturers on a permanent basis and better working conditions. Lecturers initially fell under the Department of Basic Education, but were later migrated to DHET. The union has long fought for the migration to be completed, the payment of benefits such as pension and medical aid contributions, and the normalisation of working hours. Some lecturers apparently earn below the minimum wage and have been on contract for years.
- Read more of this The Sunday Independent report by Lerato Diale at SA Labour News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page