Nehawu in Durban says the decision to retrench around 152 non-academic staff members by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is irrational and premature.

The decision comes after the university has already let go of 21 staff members in the past year due to operational requirements. Nehawu Durban regional secretary Prince Mthalane says they are going to oppose this plan by any means possible.

“The university is still undergoing a restructuring process an implementing a Section 189 in the midst of a process that’s not completed is premature. Management has not presented the new structure to the unions that’s going to inform us how many positions are going to be redundant. So, we are going to oppose this thing by any means possible. We are already in consultation; we are looking at legal avenues to explore and we are also not ruling out any mass action that might occur as a result of our opposition to these retrenchments.”

Full interview below: