EFF, Nehawu clash over TUT worker demands

Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) Soshanguve North campus. File picture: Phill Magakoe

Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) Soshanguve North campus. File picture: Phill Magakoe

Published Jan 28, 2016

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Johannesburg - Workers at Tshwane University of Technology and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Student Command on Thursday complained that the National Education Health and Allied Worker’s Union (Nehawu) was impeding “insourcing negotiations”.

EFF Student Command at the Main Campus said: “Currently the task team convened does not have the mandate of the workers and some of the representatives especially from Nehawu are highly unpopular amongst workers demanding their insourcing.”

However, Nehawu national spokesperson, Thanzi Nematshema, said the union was doing all it could to “make sure” that workers’ demands would be met.

“We are a trade union not a student body therefore we do not see why we have to answer to the EFF. We are there to represent the interests of the workers,” said Nematshema.

But the EFF said “of primary concern” among workers was that “Nehawu representatives have for years ignored them” each time they asked for their intervention in worker-related challenges and struggles.

Nematshema said workers, TUT management and the EFF student body would meet on Thursday to further discuss contract demands.

“We are going to meet to discuss the R5 000 given to the workers as a benefit on their contracts. We need management to make it clear as to what the amount is exactly for. We want to know if this allowance will be used towards paying for fees of the workers students at the institution,” said Nematshema.

African News Agency

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