Press Statement dated 20 October 2018
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has warmly welcomed the Administrative, Library and Technical Staff Association (ALTSA) to its family of 20 affiliates representing a variety of public and private sector trade unions.
The majority of ALTSA membership, which emerged in 2002 following the merger of ALSA (Administrative and Library Staff Association) and the TSA (Technical Staff Association) are currently based at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg but has plans to spread to other campuses throughout the country going forward. The TSA had been in existence for more than 30 years and ALSA for more than 20 years at the time of amalgamation.
“ALTSA has always prided itself on representing its members on a wide variety of committees. We have always ensured that we represent members at any restructuring discussions as well as Section 189 negotiations. In the early days salary negotiations were done and dusted within a few days. Now salary negotiations can take months,” said its President Ricardo de Sao Joao.
Over the years ALTSA has represented members at departmental hearings, central disciplinary hearings and assisted many members to apply for ill health, early retirement”.
ALTSA’s approach to unionism has been to solve problems within a department, either between staff or between a staff member and a manager, before the problem reaches a confrontation or a disciplinary hearing, concluded de Sao Joao.
Issued by Dennis George, General Secretary, Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa)