The University of Cape Town’s academic staff are set to down tools for the first time in the history of the institution, protesting against a 3% salary rise, which they say is “insulting and derisory”.
On Sunday, prof Kelley Moult, leader of the Academics’ Union (AU) salary bargaining team, told Business Day that the union and the university will attend another conciliation at the CCMA on Monday or Tuesday.
If the deadlock continues the union will strike, she said.
The breakdown in negotiations is likely to affect the university in the weeks leading to the release of the 2022 supplementary examination results, and the registration process for the 2023 academic year.
“If there is no settlement, academic activities such as teaching may be adversely affected, too,” said the union statement.
The union, which represents a majority of academic staff at the university, said the industrial action was supported by 87% of AU members.
According to Stats SA figures released last week, consumer price inflation is 6.9%.
The universities that UCT has historically used as comparators in setting pay increases have been able to offer their employees increases of at least a 6%. The institution, widely regarded as Africa's best, ranks high globally, she said.
“We find it hard to accept that UCT, as one of the premier universities in SA, is unable to match the pay increases offered by other higher education institutions,” said Moult.
“The insult of the 3% pay offer is further compounded by the university having budgeted for an R183m increase in student financial aid (a 106% increase from 2022).”
Matching the pay increases offered by other universities would cost about R90m, Moult said.
“In the vote taken by members of the AU this week, 87% expressed support for a three-day strike, with potential further strikes, as soon as the strike certificate is issued by the CCMA.
“The university bargaining team has consistently failed to return with a revised mandate since December 1 2022 despite being given ample opportunity to do so”
In a statement on Saturday, the university said it would do everything possible to avert the strike, ensuring that “all university activities are scheduled to continue as planned”.
“There is an ongoing process to address the issues that have arisen, and we are confident that it will yield an acceptable outcome soon,” said UCT vice-chancellor professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.
“It must further be noted that it is not unusual for UCT to have not reached an agreement with any of the unions at this point of the year. Such is the nature of wage negotiations.”
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