The Sunday Independent reports that the impasse between the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) at colleges continues as the strike over salaries and working conditions enters its second week.
On Friday, some technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and community education and training (CET) colleges in Soweto were empty, with only a skeleton staff and a few students on the premises while the department said it remained committed to finding a solution to issues raised by the union.
This comes after talks between Higher Education Minister Naledi Pandor and union leaders broke down earlier in the week when Nehawu demanded that the director-general, Gwebinkundla Qonde, not be part of the meeting.
Among the union’s demands is the removal of Qonde, the transfer of all college-paid lecturers into the government pay system, employing lecturers on a permanent basis and better working conditions.
The union accused Qonde of being unwilling to transform the sector and of blocking every effort to address grievances since 2015.
A student at a South West Gauteng college in Soweto, who identified herself as Nonhlanhla, said she had not attended class since the start of the week.
“Yes, I want to attend class but it comes with understanding some of the issues raised by our lecturers. I will come and sit here, but who is going to teach me? It’s better I stay at home until they tell us that the strike is over,” she said.
Lecturers initially fell under the Department of Basic Education but were later migrated to Higher Education and Training. The union has long fought for the migration to be completed, the payment of benefits such as pension funds and medical aid, and the normalization of working hours.
Some lecturers earn below the minimum wage and have been on contract for years.
A lecturer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had lost hope that the situation would be rectified. “It’s been years of the same conditions, when Basic Education couldn’t solve our problems. They threw us to Higher Education and now it is just playing us for fools. How many meetings must happen before someone understands you can’t give us fancy titles and treat us worse than miners?”
The lecturer said he reported for duty only to sign the register and go back home.
Meanwhile, the union said while it was committed to resolving the impasse, the department had to create an environment that is conducive to proper discussions. “We don’t want them to have the arrogance of thinking they can deduct our pay for a strike that is their fault to begin with. Until such time, I am not prepared to teach anybody. Never,” the lecturer said.
Nehawu also accused Qonde of using court interdicts to intimidate its members, adding that it would explore legal avenues as part of its efforts to find relief for its members.
The original of this report by Lerato Diale appeared on page 4 of The Sunday Independent of 24 February 2019
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