MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

NMMU 6.4% salary increase COLA offer accepted

By

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University management and unions yesterday reached an agreement on the cost of living adjustment component (COLA) of the salary negotiations, with effect from 1 May.

The salary negotiations have now largely concluded, with both unions accepting the institution’s unconditional 6.4% COLA offer yesterday, with negotiations to continue on the remainder of the two components that make up the existing salary increase formula.

The agreement effectively resolves a dispute lodged by unions with regards to this component, with a commitment to implement the increase this month.

The University’s salary negotiations have been based on an agreed-upon formula of three components, namely:

  1. An inflation-based cost of living adjustment (COLA)
  2. A cost of living enhancement (COLE) based on performance, and
  3. A market related adjustment

This formula had previously amounted to increases averaging around 8.61%, which, in the current higher education context, is no longer sustainable.

It is no secret that the last two years have been financially nightmarish for higher education institutions as funding and other issues were thrust to the fore, threatening their financial sustainability.

NMMU is currently burdened with a R69-million operational budget deficit before investment income and while plans are in place to drum up third stream income, the University has been forced to focus on the challenging issues of affordability and sustainability. Failure to do so would be of huge detriment to the institution and its people.

In light of the above, coupled with a shortfall on student enrolment targets this year and the fees budget down by 2.5%, there was just cause for addressing affordability. Not doing so could result in greater deficits than the R73-million from operations before investment income forecasted for 2018.

Cognisant of the present challenges, the University had to pull off a tough balancing act in order to ensure that it stays afloat, while seeing to it that hardworking staff are remunerated in line with inflation trends.

The University is pleased that the agreement was reached amicably and in time to effect the increases at the end of this month.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.