By Sanjeev “Mahatma” Gupta
At a time when the issue of labour brokers is a legislation minefield, where trade unions and the private sector are yet to reach a concrete agreement, the recent decision by two of the country’s prestigious institutions of higher learning – the University of Witswatersrand and University of Cape Town – to in-source support staff has stirred a hornet’s nest. And it may well be the labour broking industry’s beginning of the end.
It seems the landmark decisions reached at the two universities are having a domino effect in institutions of higher learning countrywide, where it has been reported that support staff , ably supported by students, are also calling for termination of outsourcing. And strong indications are that management at those universities will buckle under pressure and comply.
Buoyed by the camaraderie of the student movement, it is might be a matter of time before the anti-outsourcing movement starts spreading to other sectors too. Though the level of success achieved at universities might not necessarily be replicated elsewhere, employers engaging the services causal labourers should be braced for long hours of deadlocked negotiations with uncompromising union leaders. Perhaps the fear might be exaggerated who knows? But any thing can happen, didn’t we all underestimate the power of students, dismissing them as trigger-happy social media addicted brats?
However, the coming months will show whether the universities’ movement was an isolated case or the catalyst that will lead to the demise of the labour broking system. Unquestionably, the Million Rand question is: Will labour brokers become an endangered species or are recent developments at universities the false dawn of in-sourcing?
Sanjeev “Mahatma” Gupta is a freelancer based in Chatsworth, Kwazulu Natal
