BUAN lecturers enjoy 35% windfall

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday December 15, 2017 18:25

 

The impasse, which led to the lecturers withholding students’ results at some point, started in 2015 when the University Council awarded the employees the windfall. This, however could not be implemented as the management objected the move.

The issue emanated from the Governing Council’s (GC) pronouncement in June 2015 that “BUAN staff members be reimbursed the 35% that comprises of 20% transport allowance and 15% housing allowance”.

According to the memo from the university’s services manager titled, ‘Decisions of the Governing Council’, the council resolved that the remuneration cut across the board of staff basic salaries and to be back dated with effect from April 1, 2015.

A December 13, 2017 memorandum from BUAN manager of corporate services, states that, “pursuant to a staff address by the chairperson of the Governing Council on November 27 2017, staff are informed that payment of the 35% allowance (20% housing and 15% transport) to eligible staff, as well as responsibility allowance for 2017 deans (25%) and academic heads of department (20%) with effective from April 1 2017, will be effected in December 2017”. 

The staff members once warned university management that “failure to effect the Governing Council’s decision of paying the overdue allowances will precipitate dire consequences including industrial action that will result in withholding this semester’s examinations results and even withholding our core services to the college”.

In their petition to management last year, the concerned members stated that in spite of the positive decision, seven months have elapsed without implementation, a flagrant violation of the Employment Act.