The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has convened a meeting with workers today to present the formalized wage offer from Wits University management.
NUMSA members have been on strike to demand higher wages at the institution. A major sticking point was the fact that the majority of our members fell into grade 16 and 17 which is the category reserved for the lowest earners.
This is the proposed offer from the university: our members are satisfied with the proposal
• Workers in grade 16 and 17 were formerly employed by labour brokers and received the lowest salaries of all employees at Wits. Because of the pressure NUMSA put on Wits management, they have offered them a 9.20% increase.
• Furthermore the university has proposed to establish a task team to integrate these workers fully into grade 15 by July this year. This will bring the lowest paid workers closer to the goal of achieving a living wage. They will earn the same as other workers who fulfill the same job description.
• The proposal includes the establishment of a task team to ensure that these workers have been absorbed into grade 15 by July this year.
• Wits proposes to increase salaries of workers between grades 5-8 by 7%
• Wits has offered to increase the salaries of workers between grade 9-15 by 7.80%
NUMSA is worker controlled and therefore we cannot sign the final offer until our members have seen it and satisfied themselves that it contains clauses which they agreed to. Thereafter it is likely that all parties will sign the final agreement later today.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Issued by Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA Acting spokesperson
0833767725
phakamileh@numsa.org.za