Versindaba
~ 'n Kollektiewe weblog vir die Afrikaanse digkuns ~

ʼn Paar jaar gelede het die universiteit waar ek werk, die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand, besluit om die skoonmaakdienste uit te kontrakteer. Al die permanente werkers in hierdie dienste is afgedank en sommige van hulle is deur die nuwe kontrakteurs aangestel teen die helfte van hul vorige salarisse en sonder ʼn mediese fonds of personeelbeurse vir hul kinders. Lees meer daaroor hier. Die universiteit is doof vir kritiek hieroor, selfs nadat die impak van die proses op die werknemers in akademiese tydskrifte gepubliseer is. Lees hier. Sowat ʼn week gelede stuur ons registrateur die volgende briefie:

“As you are aware, Impact and Supercare are providers of cleaning services to the University. During its annual budgeting process, the University management became aware of economic challenges which will impact its operations extensively during 2010.  These challenges necessitated the University embarking on a large-scale budget reduction exercise. One of the areas identified for cost savings by University management is cleaning. Consequently, the University had no option but to inform the Service Providers that the University has decided to reduce its utilization and frequency of specific cleaning services currently provided, with effect from1 January 2010. This means that there will be a reduction of the cleaning staff complement at the University. This was announced to the staff of Supercare and Impact on 1 December 2009. In January, when the University has a clear understanding of the nature of the service that will be rendered, a further communiqué will follow. The retrenchment notices that have been served on Supercare staff are clearly ones that evoke emotion. Staff who wish to enter into communication regarding this matter should preferably channel their concerns through their line managers, so that the relevant member of the executive can be informed appropriately. Such communication should not be directed to the service provider/s.”

Mooi beplan. Kondig dit aan as die meeste akademici weg is op vakansie, die studente nie meer op die kampus is nie. Ek verneem by van die werkers dat hulle ses maande gelede ʼn klousule moes onderteken dat hulle aanvaar dat hulle dienskontrakte beëindig word as die universiteit hul kontrak met die diensverskaffer kanselleer. Die werkers en van die akademiese personeel het vandag in Jorissenstraat in Braamfontein betoog. Ek het een fotograaf van ʼn koerant gesien, nie ʼn enkele televisiekamera nie. Nou wonder ek wat werklik die verskil tussen die video by die Reitzkoshuis is en wat hierdie sogenaamde liberale universiteit kort voor Kersfees doen om geld te bespaar.