UCT staff get lower increases due to #feesmustfall
Cape Town - University of Cape Town staff have had to renegotiate their salary increases for 2016 following last year's decision not to increase university fees.
The National Health Education and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said it had been asked to accept an 8% increase for its members at UCT, down from the 10% it negotiated before the protests against university fee increases in October last year.
The Academic Union, which represents UCT's academic staff, originally expected a 6.8% increase. Talks were reopened and its increase was revised to 5% and signed on 23 December.
Nehawu UCT branch administrator Smartdryck Abrahams said the union's members had rejected the 8% offer. The parties had met several times to resolve the issue. Another meeting was planned for Monday.
Abrahams said no strikes were planned and negotiations would continue. UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola told News24: "Due to budgetary challenges resulting from a reduction in government subsidies; the decision not to increase fees in 2016 for South African and African students; and the insourcing of certain services, the university has had to reopen negotiations around salary increases for 2016 and we are committed to concluding the negotiation process as soon as possible."