The University of South Africa (Unisa) and the National, Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) formally signed an agreement that permanent employees will receive a salary increase of between five and eight percent for the 2017 salary financial year.

A statement from the university said that in terms of the agreement, signed at Unisa’s Muckleneuk Campus on Tuesday, the salary increase of between five and eight percent is on a sliding scale, with employees on the higher grades receiving the lower percentage and those on lower grades receiving the higher percentage.

“Employees employed in a temporary capacity, for example, fixed-term contracts, hourly paid employees, excluding those employed in terms of the Student Worker Scheme and Casual Worker Scheme and who are paid salaries based on an evaluated job grade, will receive a 7,75 percent increase,” said Unisa spokesperson, Martin Ramotshela.

“The parties agreed that the new salary increases will be implemented on or around the 15 February this year,” added Ramotshela. The parties further agreed that the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ will not be applied and that the interdict sought by the university during the strike falls away.