UCT Student Worker Alliance

We, the undersigned, call upon UCT management to rectify the intolerable situation faced by outsourced workers at UCT.

Since UCT management outsourced workers in 1999, working conditions have deteriorated. In an attempt to ameliorate the situation, a Code of Conduct for the companies to adhere to concerning working conditions was introduced in 2004. The Code was drawn up between the management of UCT and the companies without the consultation of workers. Even though the Code has led to some improvements, such as wage increases, it is still not enough to meet their basic needs and support a family. Nor is it enough to protect their working conditions.

We believe that a socially just UCT is possible where people can have their basic needs met free from job insecurity, intimidation and harassment. We believe that this is the only situation that is acceptable for our university. No code will ever adequately protect workers at UCT because the introduction of private sector interests at our public institution will always lead to profits being placed before the needs of workers. Thus any code will fail to secure social justice for workers at UCT. UCT management is responsible for creating this intolerable situation and is therefore responsible for undoing it.

We urge UCT management to honour the Mission Statement and the Statement of Values, which aim to: actively promote social justice and equity; achieve social transformation; promote equal opportunity and the full development of human potential and to overcome all forms of gender and other oppressive discrimination.

We are ashamed to belong to a university that tolerates the exploitation of others. We, along with the outsourced workers, therefore demand that UCT management:

Re-employ all outsourced workers on their terms.
Guarantee that all workers currently working at UCT will stay here and that their working conditions will be protected regardless of changes in employment structures.
Provide workers with benefits that all staff currently employed by UCT receive e.g. tuition reductions.
Provide a minimum wage of R4500.00 per month.
End the harassment and intimidation of workers at UCT.
Establish a process whereby workers may safely, confidentially and directly communicate problems and issues to UCT management.

We trust that UCT management will respond to this petition in a manner in keeping with our values and tradition of social justice.

(note: please sign either the online petition OR the hard copy)