UCT staff end strike action after securing 3.5% raise and once-off bonuses

University of Cape Town (UCT) employees have expressed mixed emotions following the institution's approval of a 3.5% salary increase. The agreement was finalised this week after members of the Professional, Administrative, and Support Services (PASS) staff initiated strike action to protest initial wage offers.

While the settlement is a step forward, it remains significantly lower than the staff's original demand of 7%.

Despite the gap between the initial demand and the final figure, Employee Union (EU) representative Fabian Botma believes the consensus will lead to meaningful adjustments for workers. He emphasised that the mobilisation of staff played a crucial role in the negotiations.

"The outcome demonstrates the impact of collective action and reinforces the importance of continued engagement, accountability, and unity going forward," Botma stated.

The negotiations extended beyond a simple percentage increase. Botma confirmed that the union successfully secured further monetary concessions to help bridge the gap for the workforce.

Key details of the agreement include:

3.5% Salary Increase: Applied to standard wages.

Once-off Bonus: To be distributed across all PASS staff members in the coming month.

The union views these additional payments as a vital victory in providing immediate financial relief to employees who participated in the industrial action.