Universities bargaining council plan

THURSDAY APRIL 12 2018 MOVES are under way to prepare for negotiations to be held on the possible establishment of a bargaining council for tertiary institutions.

Universities of South Africa (USAf) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) confirmed yesterday they had commissioned studies on the matter ahead of talks.

USAf chief executive Professor Ahmed Bawa said their board was approached a while ago by Cosatu to discuss with them the formation of a bargaining council for higher education. He said the challenge was that universities have institutional autonomy.

“We have asked one of the community practitioners, a human resources director at USAf, to consider the matter and make recommendations to the board of USAf.

“So we are looking at it to understand what the advantages are, the disadvantages and whether it is a process to take forward,” Bawa said.

Nehawu deputy general secretary December Mavuso said they had been campaigning for the bargaining council for more than five years.

He said they approached the vice-chancellors of universities about the matter last year and it was agreed a study would be undertaken on the best model.

“We look to finalise the study by June and then we will start to engage them,” he said.

Bawa and Mavuso made their comments after Parliament said unions raised the need for the establishment of the bargaining council to its portfolio committee on higher education during visits to tertiary institutions in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng in January.

“The committee noted the proposal by the unions for the establishment of a bargaining forum for higher education. The committee will confer with the portfolio committee on public service and administration to find a way forward on this matter,” it said in its report which also highlighted discrepancies in the conditions of service, benefits and remuneration for employees at the universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

Unions complained that conditions of service were not harmonised for contract workers who were absorbed after the #FeesMustFall at Unisa and the universities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The Academics and Professional Staff Union was concerned about transformation at Unisa, especially at senior management level.

“It indicated that the university did not meet its employment equity plan targets.”