The labour dispute that shut down operations at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) for six weeks is finally over, but students aren't out of the woods yet.
The labour dispute that shut down operations at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) for six weeks is finally over, but students aren't out of the woods yet.
"There will be no September vacation, no holidays, and students have agreed to attend classes on Saturdays and the academic year will be pushed well into December," said WSU spokesperson Angela Church.
WSU reopened on Monday after the university agreed with worker unions to up employees' original 4.25% annual salary increase to 5%, backdating to 1 January.
National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) media liaison officer Sizwe Pamla said workers were demanding wage increases between 8%-10%.
"As much as we are not satisfied with the offer there were lots of issues that we had to take into consideration, especially the fact that the learning of the students was severely compromised," Pamla said.
After a desperate appeal by Mthatha Anglican Bishop Sitembele Mzamane for government intervention, saying it was painful and horrifying that so many weeks had passed without a “healthy” resolution, President Jacob Zuma appointed Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, to help solve the WSU crisis.
Nehawu and the National Tertiary Education Union members declared to strike in the last week of July.
This lead to a lockout of academic and administrative staff because of an ongoing financial crisis at the university.
A press release from the Director-General of Higher Education and Training, Gwebinkundla Fellix Qonde, confirms the financial deficit the multi-campus university has been struggling through. It also highlights the university's battle to meet payroll commitments from month to month.
The agreement reached on Sunday stipulated that an audit firm would be appointed to conduct further investigation on salary distribution processes.
In the meantime WSU students must play catch-up to ensure that the academic year is not lost.
