EMPLOYEES of Durban's Mangosuthu University of Technology, who embarked on a month-long strike over wages, will return to their posts today after their union and management signed an agreement to end the strike
The strike by 526 workers belonging to the National Education and Health Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) interrupted the institution's academic activities and forced it to delay student registration for the second semester. Workers demanded a salary increase of 8 percent and an additional housing allowance of R1100.
MUT vice-principal Professor Marcus Ramogale said both parties agreed that employees on grades five to six will receive a salary adjustment of 6percent with effect from January 1 2011 and those on grades seven to 17 will receive an adjustment of 8percent.
He said a housing allowance of R300 will be introduced from next year, and that staff who had not utilised the housing subsidy will receive a once-off sum of R2000 before the end of the month.
"Parties agreed to introduce a housing allowance of R300 a month an employee which will only be payable to those employees who are not recipients of the MUT housing subsidy benefit," he said.
Ramogale also said the "no work, no pay" policy helped the university to save money but he declined to reveal by how much. He said the salaries of the workers who took part in the strike would be deducted over a period of three months, starting from August.
He also said the university was not yet ready to start the second academic term and that the date would be decided at a meeting scheduled for today.
"The return of students will depend on the readiness of the institution. We expect the semester to be hectic and we might have to sacrifice the September short break to make up for the lost time," he said.
MUT employee Sakhile Mngadi said he was satisfied with the outcome but questioned the month-long negotiating period.
"I have not been paid for a month and I have bills to pay," he said.
Nehawu representatives were not available for comment by the time of going to press.
Mangosuthu strike over wages ends
EMPLOYEES of Durban's Mangosuthu University of Technology, who embarked on a month-long strike over wages, will return to their posts today after their union and management signed an agreement to end the strike
The strike by 526 workers belonging to the National Education and Health Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) interrupted the institution's academic activities and forced it to delay student registration for the second semester. Workers demanded a salary increase of 8 percent and an additional housing allowance of R1100.
MUT vice-principal Professor Marcus Ramogale said both parties agreed that employees on grades five to six will receive a salary adjustment of 6percent with effect from January 1 2011 and those on grades seven to 17 will receive an adjustment of 8percent.
He said a housing allowance of R300 will be introduced from next year, and that staff who had not utilised the housing subsidy will receive a once-off sum of R2000 before the end of the month.
"Parties agreed to introduce a housing allowance of R300 a month an employee which will only be payable to those employees who are not recipients of the MUT housing subsidy benefit," he said.
Ramogale also said the "no work, no pay" policy helped the university to save money but he declined to reveal by how much. He said the salaries of the workers who took part in the strike would be deducted over a period of three months, starting from August.
He also said the university was not yet ready to start the second academic term and that the date would be decided at a meeting scheduled for today.
"The return of students will depend on the readiness of the institution. We expect the semester to be hectic and we might have to sacrifice the September short break to make up for the lost time," he said.
MUT employee Sakhile Mngadi said he was satisfied with the outcome but questioned the month-long negotiating period.
"I have not been paid for a month and I have bills to pay," he said.
Nehawu representatives were not available for comment by the time of going to press.
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