Pretoria - Talks between management of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and striking workers who are rejecting an “insourcing deal” have collapsed, the institution said on Friday.
“During the past two days members of TUT management met directly with workers’ representatives and spent many hours explaining the benefits of the agreement reached by the task team on insourcing,” said spokeswoman Willa de Ruyter.
“Despite all these efforts, the workers’ representatives returned to the meeting with a list of new demands and a new agreement, which in terms of affordability and sustainability, TUT management cannot accede to.”
The striking workers, supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Student Command, had rejected an agreement reached with public sector union National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the Student Representative Council (SRC) last week.
The protesters, who demonstrated outside the Pretoria West main campus over the past two weeks, demanded immediate permanent employment and a R10 000 monthly salary.
According to the Nehawu-backed agreement, workers such as gardeners, cleaners and security guards would receive a minimum wage of R5 000 and other benefits. The workers’s dependents would also receive free education.
Outsourcing of services at the institution would gradually be phased out as contracts expire, and woud be finalised by the end of 2019.
De Ruyter said academic activities continue at the institution. Registrations end on February 19.
African News Agency