Opinion: Start of a revolution

ON OCTOBER 6, UCT responded to a renewed demand to stop the practice of using outsourced labour with a rebuff that reeked of smugness – and of a “take it or leave it” attitude.

Quoting from a “Report on Outsourcing”, UCT’s media liaison manager Patricia Lucas said the total additional costs of insourcing all services at the university would be R58 million a year, with additional upfront asset purchase costs of R68m.

“The university will not be able to absorb the cost without raising student tuition fees significantly,” she said, adding that outsourcing allows the university to concentrate on its core focus of teaching and research.

It was a bitter disappointment to workers and their student supporters, but it made them even more determined to step up their fight.

And then, suddenly, the resolve of the authorities collapsed, under the combined strength of workers and students.

Yesterday, just over three weeks after saying they wouldn’t stop outsourcing, UCT changed its tune completely. In a statement released under the name of its vice-chancellor Dr Max Price, it said: “Last night, we made a commitment to the principle of insourcing.”

In a week of spectacular capitulations by UCT, with the most notable being its decision to back a no fees increase for 2016 after initially being against it, this was the most spectacular capitulation of all.

Make no mistake, it is a massive victory – a historic victory – for workers at the university. We have no doubt it will inspire compatriots not only at South Africa’s other universities, but in workplaces everywhere.

We believe it will signal the start of a countrywide revolution, a revolution which will bring an end to the practice of labour-broking.

In congratulating the workers of UCT and their student helpers, we’d like to say to the unions and, indeed, the government: This is the reward when people, working in concert, act decisively – instead of talking, talking and, ultimately, doing nothing.

This has been an incredible two weeks for students and workers, but there is still much work to be done. Today we urge all companies in South Africa – including Independent Media – to follow UCT’s example with regard to outsourcing.