Latest news with #workerrepresentation
News24
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
‘The union has lost touch': ‘Tired' Nehawu members form breakaway union
Former Nehawu members formed the National Democratic and Servant Workers Union after a meeting in Tshwane, citing leadership and financial issues. It plans mass recruitment in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga to promote worker-centred representation. It accused Nehawu of undemocratic practices, financial mismanagement, and neglecting member-specific concerns. Fed up with what they describe as 'tyranny', at least 100 former National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) members have formed a breakaway union. The National Democratic and Servant Workers Union (NDASWU) was founded after a meeting in Tshwane over the weekend. One of the founding members, Zolani Masoleng, said a mass recruitment drive was in full swing in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga as a start. Masoleng said 1 000 members had been signed up in the first week. He told News24 one of the reasons that prompted members to break away was that Nehawu no longer represented the needs and aspirations of its members. 'Nehawu is no longer controlled by its members. There is a top-down approach. It has become painfully clear that Nehawu no longer represents the needs, priorities, and aspirations of a significant portion of its membership,' Masoleng said. Other reasons for cutting ties included a leadership deficit, alleged financial mismanagement, ineffective representation, neglect of sector-specific issues and a failure to support members. READ | ANC tells Mtolo to apologise to Nehawu as Mbalula moves to quash GNU tensions 'Organisational discipline has been weaponised to eliminate contestation through spurious suspensions and dissolutions of regional executive committees,' he added. Masoleng said member subscriptions, which typically range between R100 and R200, worth millions were being squandered and used to finance lavish lifestyles and endless court cases aimed at silencing dissent and sidelining alternative voices. 'There is an evident failure to represent members effectively during disputes, bargaining processes or legal challenges. The union has lost touch with the occupational realities and site-specific concerns of its members, Masoleng said, adding that there was a lack of legal representation to address grievances. READ | Bheki Mtolo issues public apology to Nehawu following threats of legal action Masoleng denied that the breakaway union comprised 'disgruntled' members. 'It's normal for your former lover to badmouth you when things go south. We expected that there would be sour grapes, but the reality is that people are tired and believe these things have to stop,' Masoleng said. He said the union would fill in gaps where Nehawu had no reach, including the private health sector, parastatals, higher education and artificial-intelligence based sectors.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Part-Time Faculty Win Voice at SMU Senate
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2025-- After years of fighting for better worker representation in university governance, the Saint Mary's University (SMU) Senate have voted to amend their by-laws, allowing for part-time faculty to run for a seat on the Senate. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) applauds this worker-driven victory. 'This is a huge win for academic workers,' said Lauren McKenzie, CUPE 3912 President. CUPE 3912 represents approximately 400 part-time faculty at Saint Mary's University. 'We can finally take part in the decision-making processes that impact our lives and the work we do—as the full-time academic staff we work alongside every day have been doing—and work together to protect workers and protect the standard of postsecondary education that we know SMU students deserve.' The Senate is a body of elected members responsible for the SMU educational policy, including determining courses of study and creating or discontinuing academic departments. The change in by-laws also means part-time faculty at SMU are now eligible to nominate and vote for all elected members of the Senate, which they were previously unable to do. This is an important victory for academic workers at SMU, particularly in the wake of recent cuts to SMU course offerings—which have resulted in half of part-time faculty at SMU losing work or losing their jobs entirely. Previously, CUPE 3912 members taught a third of SMU courses and workers have been vocal about the impact of these cuts on both their members livelihoods as well as the quality of postsecondary education in Nova Scotia. 'These cuts are primarily impacting the humanities, meaning SMU students are losing opportunities to explore subjects like history, religion, and language and culture,' continued McKenzie. 'SMU students are losing a wealth of knowledge in these areas and the incredible expertise our members bring. It's not just about the course list; it's about the kind of academic institution SMU is—or is at risk of becoming. That's why we fought for a voice at the Senate, and this is what we can do with that voice.' :so/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact:Lauren McKenzie President, CUPE 3912 [email protected] Manek CUPE Atlantic Communications [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT LABOR UNIVERSITY SOURCE: CUPE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/22/2025 09:20 AM/DISC: 05/22/2025 09:19 AM
