UB strike ends as agreement is reached

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Wednesday September 22, 2010 00:00

 

UB management signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Botswana Academic and Senior Support Staff  (UBASSSU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (UBNASU) negotiating committees after discussing ways to break the deadlock. In the agreement the parties agreed to constitute a reference group to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

University of Botswana management has reached an agreement with the university unions, effectively ending the strike action as normal operations resumed at the campus yesterday.

UB management signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Botswana Academic and Senior Support Staff  (UBASSSU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (UBNASU) negotiating committees after discussing ways to break the deadlock. In the agreement the parties agreed to constitute a reference group to oversee the implementation of the agreement. The parties agreed to undertake a comprehensive job profiling and evaluation exercise for all support and academic staff jobs.

They agreed that Phase One of the salary structure review exercise should be completed within a period of three months, from the date of signature of the agreement and should there be a need to extend the period it would be done by mutual consent. Phase one would only cover a representative sample of both academic and support staff positions. The parties further agreed that the sample of jobs that would be profiled and evaluated under phase one must be such that a new salary structure can be developed from the results. They agreed that Phase Two of the job profiling and evaluation project would cover the remaining jobs and that it would be completed within a period of 18 months.  The parties agreed to embark on a fresh remuneration market survey and work together to develop terms of reference for the survey if needed.  The unions and management shall jointly work on a transparent process of selecting the consultant to undertake the market remuneration survey in accordance with the timeframe outlined in Phase One and in accordance with the University tender regulations and procurement procedures.  The parties further agreed that a document outlining the university compensation strategy would be developed through the bargaining process within 18 months. This would take into account the development of a comprehensive, equitable and competitive university attraction and retention policy.

The agreements shall be subject to approval by both the university council and the government's wages policy committee. The parties agreed to set aside all aspects of the Global Consult Report related to the salary structure review and the unions agreed to call off the strike with effect from yesterday. Management on the other hand agreed not to implement the 'no work no pay.'

The university staff downed tools last week Tuesday and handed over a petition to the Vice Chancellor demanding that professors be put at the same salary scale as the directors of Human Resources, Information and Technology and financial services.

They demanded that when a band or scale attracts any percentage that percentage should be applied across that band or scale in order to maintain internal relativities as this recognises and values the essential contribution that all UB staff make. The petition further reads that, a comprehensive job measurement and evaluation exercise be undertaken immediately so as to respond to the ever changing job demands and technological needs and achieve a competitive and equitable pay and benefit structure.

The petition demanded that the university management should in consultation with the unions develop a clearly articulated pay philosophy in addition to market surveys.