Outsourced contract workers protest at UKZN
The academic programme across all campuses is ongoing at the moment with no reports of disruptions.
ILLEGAL protest action by outsourced contract workers at the UKZN Westville Campus turned violent this morning (Thursday, 25 February).
The protesters are employees of private companies contracted by the university to perform tasks predominantly in the areas of garden services, cleaning and security.
According to Lesiba Seshoka, executive director of corporate relations at UKZN, the personnel of one of the private security companies who were going off duty this morning participated in protest action and prevented the next shift from taking up their posts.
“A private security vehicle was severely damaged by the protestors. Two people were injured in the fracas and received the necessary medical attention. The situation is tense but under control,” said Seshoka.
He said the academic programme across all campuses is ongoing at the moment with no reports of disruptions. The university’s risk management services, private security and law enforcement agencies were present on all campuses to monitor the situation.
“A final High Court order was granted to the university to ensure the safety and security of the university community and the protection of its property. The university respects the rights of those who wish to protest lawfully and peacefully without infringing on the rights of those who want to work and learn,” said Seshoka.
Towards the end of 2015, the executive management of the university established a task team comprising students, human resources and labour representatives to investigate the insourcing and/or outsourcing of services on its five campuses. The university is also cognisant of the general consensus within the higher education sphere, which appears to have widespread support for moving away from outsourcing. The work of the task team is at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that they will report to executive management with proposals shortly.
