The Mercury reports that staff at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) resumed work on Monday after reaching an agreement with the institution regarding salary increments.

The university and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) had earlier deadlocked in talks after the union demanded an 8% salary increase, while the university was offering only 3.3%. The workers downed tools and embarked on a strike at the beginning of the month, which was followed by violent student protests. This led to the closure of the university. Nehawu’s eThekwini regional secretary, Prince Mthalane, reported that at a meeting last week the parties had managed to reach a solution, which automatically halted the proceedings of the strike. Speaking to The Mercury on Monday, he said the union had got the employer to move from 3.3% to a 5.8% increase. According to Mthalane, there had also been an issue with the housing allowance. The union had wanted an increase from R1,500 a month to R3,500 a month and it had been agreed that it would be increased, gradually, by R250 a year. The union had also demanded the conversion of all eligible temporary workers to permanent status, but since that matter was before the CCMA, the parties could not reach an agreement on that issue.

• Read the original of the above report by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at The Mercury

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