University ‘trying to gag us’, says union
NTEU has been ‘de-recognised’ by UKZN
THE National Tertiary Education Union, which has a 370-strong membership of University of Kwazulu Natal employees, has been “derecognised” by the institution, which claimed it did not have enough members.
But the union hit back and accused the university of attempting to gag it by making the decision last month because it had exposed alleged controversial and corrupt practices related to the university’s management.
The union has since successfully obtained an interim court interdict against the UKZN regarding the de-recognition. The matter is set down to be heard on March 23.
Some union members have been on “go slow” action since February 2017 over alleged performance stipulations made by UKZN’S management.
A union source based at UKZN, who and asked not to be named, said the NTEU had been vocal on issues related to corruption, abusive management practices and the democratisation of the university. The source also claimed the union did a survey last year and found a large number of staff members had been sexual abuse victims.
“When we asked university management to look into the findings, we encountered hostility, yet it related to a serious issue. The university’s approach is to silence us because we are always calling for transparency which sadly does not exist at the institution,” said the source.
NTEU’S national spokesperson Jako Nel said there appeared to be elements within UKZN with an agenda to shut members out. Nel said NTEU had a strong national presence with affiliation across 18 universities.
“Our members can be assured we are not going anywhere. We have done everything we can to reach an amicable solution with Jako Nel, right, national spokesperson for NTEU, and UKZN vicechancellor Dr Albert van Jaarsveld.
management. However, their sudden and unfortunate ‘closed door’ policy has left us with no alternative, but to knock on the doors of the labour court.” Nel said NTEU’S national leadership met UKZN vice-chancellor Dr Albert van Jaarsveld in January to discuss the relationship with the university management.
He said it had left that meeting with a feeling that they were on a good footing.
“A month later, we got a letter telling us our recognition was cancelled. We wrote to the vice-chancellor and the acting executive director of human relations querying the decision but have had no response from either,” claimed Nel.
He said that it did not meet the membership threshold had yet to be proven as no notice was given to the union.
“We were never consulted with regards to how they determined the threshold formula. We believe this is an attempt to gag us,” said Nel.
UKZN’S acting spokesperson Normah Zondo said in terms of a recognition agreement signed between UKZN and unions in 2009, each union, in order to be recognised, had to have a threshold membership of 20% to participate in collective bargaining issues.
“In September, NTEU and Nehawu (National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union) were advised and given
notice that they did not meet the threshold. They were given until the end of January 2018 to increase their membership to the required threshold. Last month, both unions did not achieve this,” said Zondo.
She said, as a consequence, the collective bargaining rights of the two unions were withdrawn after a decision was taken by the executive management committee.
Responding to allegations linked to sexual harassment at the university, Zondo said NTEU had conducted the survey among 81 of its members, as an internal initiative.
“The survey was not conducted in accordance with the university’s procedures, ethical standards or design. Neither NTEU nor its members utilised grievance procedures to report any alleged abusive conduct. Any act of abuse is not tolerated by the university and if supported by evidence, the complaint will be fully investigated and properly dealt with. NTEU has not utilised internal processes to resolve the grievances mentioned. “said Zondo.
Meanwhile, Nehawu regional secretary Mduduzi Chiyi said he had no knowledge of the union being excluded by UKZN.
“As far as I know, our members are still part of the bargaining processes,” said Chiyi.