UP says no more cake! – UP staff goes on strike

by Kerri-Anne Swanepoel and Kirsten Minnaar | Mar 6, 2024 | News

On Monday 19 February, many staff members and students were denied entry to the Hatfield UP campus and residence grounds by striking staff members.

UP COO Sandile Mthiyane said in a statement, “We regret to inform you that certain striking staff members have illegally obstructed vehicles from entering the Hatfield campus premises.”

The protest follows the announcement of strike action by joint labour unions (NEHAWU, UPWO, and Solidarity) on 15 February due to failed salary negotiations with the university for 2024. According to an email from university management, picketing had been set to take place at the University Road entrance from 15 February but was not supposed to disrupt daily activities on campus. 

However, on 19 February, the strike moved around campus with protesters also blocking the Prospect Street entrance as well as turnstiles leading to some of the female residences. According to the UP statement issued on this day, active engagement with police and the leadership of the unions were ongoing. “Our priority remains the safety and well-being of all individuals associated with our institution.” Students who were unable to access their classes were requested to email the dean’s office of their respective faculties to indicate their absence and discuss any necessary alternative arrangements. UP indicated that they would provide further updates as the situation developed.

The strike continues

Strike action continued around the UP main campus on Tuesday 20 February, where students and staff struggled to gain access to campus for the second day in a row. Students desperate to enter were seen climbing over security gates and turnstiles.

According to communication sent to its members, Solidarity indicated that Joint Labour (UPWO, NEHAWU and Solidarity) lodged a dispute with the CCMA when a final offer of a 4% increase was tabled by UP. NEHAWU members taking part in the strike action said they were requesting a 7% increase, along with other demands.

Rikus Delport, director of Institutional Advancement, indicated that the university remains open to negotiations on the matter. In a campus wide email sent by UP COO Mthiyane, UP stated that there were indications of individuals outside of the university who were also participating in the strike in solidarity with the workers. In relation to the disruption of access to campus, the mail stated, “the university condemns the illegal behaviour and will act against anyone who are disrupting campus activities and who are preventing people from entering its campuses”. Student services affected on campus include the Student Service Centre, with some students still unable to register.

Later that evening, students received yet another email informing them, “University management has made the difficult decision to temporarily move some classes online. This decision will largely affect the classes conducted on the Hatfield campus only.” However, campus remains open to ensure that connectivity or computer equipment issues do not hinder any students from their studies. 

The Court Interdict 

On 22 February, UP served court papers to the striking workers, informing them of the university’s decision to obtain a court order to “maintain order and safety amidst ongoing strike action”. According to UP, this court order seeks to prevent striking workers from engaging in certain activities that disrupt the operations and undermine the safety of the university community. Some of these measures include the following: limiting picketing activities to designated areas, preventing intimidation of non-striking employees, prohibiting the obstruction of vehicles and campus entrances, allowing members of the public to enter campus freely, prohibiting any violent action (including intimidation, threats, assault and damage to property), and prohibiting any unlawful interferences with university operations. 

SAPS intervenes

On 26 February, UP sent an email confirming the use of teargas and rubber bullets on the Hatfield campus by SAPS, which they used to disperse striking workers. UP stated, “A group of striking staff members unlawfully disrupted academic activities. South African Police Services officers engaged the striking staff and asked them to follow the picketing rules. Despite repeated requests for strikers to return to the designated picketing area, the protesters refused to leave the campus.” UP further stated that they take all reports of the use of force seriously and that they are investigating the events. They concluded that the striking workers have returned to their designated picketing area and that SAPS and UP security personnel are on campus monitoring the situation. 

Many students, however, condemned SAPS’s continued use of force, especially where it appeared that striking workers were already in the process of dispersing (due to the dispersion of teargas).

The outcome

On 27 February, UP successfully obtained the court interdict against the striking workers. Following this, the university announced that contact classes would resume on 4 March.

How do the students feel?

PDBY sent out an Instagram poll for students to share their experiences surrounding the events. One student responded, “I use the Areyeng bus to get home from uni and the strike blocked Lynwood Road so I couldn’t get access to the stop I use. Uber is an expense too hard on my family and the strike forced me to incur that expense because of blocking public transport.”  Another student wrote, “I can’t justify the 10k registration and high fees and then being put online.” Many more students wrote about their support for the workers and their wish for campus life to go back to “normal”. 

This is a developing story.

Kerri-Anne Swanepoel
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I’m Kirsten, a law student who loves writing, making spreadsheets and consuming an unhealthy amount of caffeine.
I love writing about student issues and current events.