UCT Media Update on recent critical developments
A number of events and decisions have taken place at the University of Cape Town over the past few days. Please see below the critical developments that have occurred. For further information about all these points, please visit the UCT website: www.uct.ac.za.
UCT management and the Nehawu Joint Shop Stewards Council have concluded an historic agreement that UCT will insource six outsourced services, including cleaning, residence catering, gardening, campus security and staff and student transport.
UCT confirms that the interdict previously granted on 19 October 2015 was cancelled via a legal process. The interdict is therefore no longer in place. The Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions has withdrawn charges against those arrested on 20 October 2015.
UCT has made representation to the state to overturn the charges related to the arrests of those in the vicinity of Parliament on 21 October; we await feedback. The investigation is still to be finalised before a final decision is made on that matter.
The set of exams scheduled to be written from 27 October to 13 November 2015 will move to a new date – still to be determined. Once the new date is set, students will be given notice in order to be able to prepare properly.
There will be a 0% increase in fees for academic tuition and housing at UCT in 2016 for all students from the African continent.
It is our hope that essential services will come on stream in the next 48 hours and that we can return to full capacity over the next few days.
For further updates, please visit the UCT homepage: www.uct.ac.za.
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UCT & NEHAWU joint statement
The University of Cape Town management and Nehawu Joint Shop Stewards Council signed an agreement yesterday, 28 October 2015. Please find below the statement drafted yesterday and click here for the agreement (or see below):
UCT management and the Nehawu Joint Shop Stewards Council today concluded an historic agreement that UCT will insource the six outsourced services. These services are
a. Cleaning of residences, currently provided by Metro
b. Cleaning of university buildings, currently provided by Supercare
c. Catering in student residences, currently provided by C3
d. Grounds and gardening services, currently provided by Turfworks
e. Campus Protection Services, currently provided by G4S
f. Student and staff transport services, currently provided by Sibanye
The agreement has two main features. First that the above services will be insourced as each of their contracts terminates. Secondly, Nehawu agreed to ensure that the employees of the outsourced companies return to work over the next two days so that the critical functions of Campus Protection, Human Resources, Finance Department, Academic Administration, residence cleaning and waste removal, wellness services. We hope the Library will be open on Friday.
We now need to work, with Nehawu and student leaders, to address outstanding issues relating to enabling the consolidation period and exams to be proceed. We recognise we have collective responsibility to ensure that the university will return to full operations by 2 November.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
Chairperson of the Nehawu Joint Shop Stewards Council
Text of agreement:
Agreement between the University of Cape Town and the NEHAWU Joint Shop Stewards Council
The parties hereby agree that
1. UCT will insource the outsourced services at the time of contract expiry subject to a short handover period where these expiry dates are within the next six months These services are the following:
a. Cleaning of residences, currently provided by Metro
b. Cleaning of university buildings, currently provided by Supercare
c. Catering in student residences, currently provided by C3
d. Grounds and gardening services, currently provided by Turfworks
e. Campus Protection Services, currently provided by G4S
f. Student and staff transport services, currently provided by Sibanye
2. Where contracts are still in force for a few years,if such contracts have esca pe clauses or buy out clauses these should be exercised provided that there would be no additional costs to the University in exercising these options.These clauses will be examined by both parties.
3. All outsourced workers who are in the employ of the outsourced contractors at the date of transfer of each outsourced service into the University,will be absorbed into the university.
4. Where contracts are in force for a few years {C3) the parties agree to converge the wages so that the wages in the outsourced company will be the same as those in UCT at the time those workers become insourced.
5. This agreement does not preclude the use of contractors for specialised technical and/or specialised management services.
6. This agreement precludes contractors from victimising employees and shop stewards as a result of the decision taken to in-source
The parties further agree that:
7. It is in everyone's interests to normalise university activities and to conduct exams as soon as possible; the parties need to take collective leadership to achieve this.
8. With respect to certain important services that are required as a prelude to the university being opened, workers will return to work on 29 October. Noting that UCT management originally indicated that the university would be closed until 30 October, if some workers are unable to return to work on the 291 there will be no punitive action against them. O
The important services are:
• campus protection services,
• In the residences - security, cleaning, waste removal and
o catering - Some access for a defined team (about 35 staff) on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th, in order to provide meals from Monday 2nd November
• Student Wellness Service
• Access to buildings for Finance, academic administration and Human Resource functions
• Removal of barricades and the free and unimpeded access to the campus
• Libraries
9. The official return to normal functioning of the University as a whole will be on Monday 2 November.
10. The exams timetable starting 9 November has been proposed by management. This is noted by Nehawu JSSC, who commit themselves to supporting all the necessary processes to achieve this.
11. The parties commit to taking collective responsibility to ensure resumption of normal campus activities and the parties undertake to communicate actively to members and students and do everything in their ability to persuade all parties to resume normal duties.
This agreement signed at Observatory on 28 October will be legally binding on the parties.
Signed:
Chairperson NEHAWU JSSC: Mzomhle Bixa
UCT Management: Dr Max Price
Vice Chancellor
Issued by UCT, 29 October 2015
