THE Academic and Professional Staff Association (APSA) at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane is not happy with the salary increase the institution is offering its members.
Kabelo Mokoape, chairman of APSA SMU, said they downed tools after a breakdown in the wage talks that have been ongoing for the past three months.
He said they're demanding a 7% salary increase, but the university is not budging on its 5,7% wage increase offer.
“Inflation remains elevated above 7%, and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has forecasted an average 6,2% inflation for 2023. Given the elevated risks of inflation, the annualised average forecast by SARB may be an under-forecast,” he said.
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He said based on the average inflation forecast of 7,2%, the 5,7% offered by Sefako Makgatho University management will amount to a wage decline of 1,5% in real terms.
“The offer by the university will diminish the buying power of our workers in the context of inflation,” he said.
University spokesman Lusani Netshitomboni said the strike is still ongoing.
“The university is not in a position to give them what they are asking for,” he said.
Netshitomboni said the academic activities at the university are not affected.
“At this stage the academic activities are continuing, and students attend lectures and some have online lectures,” he said.
