The University of Kwazulu-Natal has long suffered the effects from a fractured labour environment which has often resulted in frustrated progress. This environment has left staff at UKZN considerably exposed to harassment and the institution itself to the ravages of corruption.
On the 1st of June this year NTEU and UKSU took a revolutionary step forward by signing the NTEU-UKSU Memorandum of Agreement. This alliance between the unions is a massive step towards a strong, unified labour voice with a clear message: No staff left behind, no institution left behind, and no student left behind.
Both NTEU and majority union at UKZN, UKSU, have recognised the necessity to put organizational differences aside and to come together for the betterment of university.
Though each union will retain its autonomy the foundation for decision-making between the two will be democratic and consultative in nature. In this contract of good faith the unions agreed to not actively recruit from each other and it is anticipated that the rich diversity of the memberships will be reflected in its dealings.
NTEU is a politically non-aligned trade union organizing exclusively in the Higher Education sector and is aligned to FEDUSA, the largest trade union federation in South Africa.
