Picketing action by PASS staff

Dear colleagues and students

Please be alerted that the University of Cape Town (UCT) executive has received notice of a planned strike from the three unions representing the Professional, Administrative and Support Service (PASS) staff within the bargaining unit (pay classes 1–12).

Regrettably, following extensive bargaining engagements over the 2026 salary increases, the executive and the three PASS unions – National Education Health and Allied Workers Union; Democratised Transport Logistics and Allied Workers Union; and UCT Employees Union – could not come to an agreement.

The matter was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) by the unions, and a determination was subsequently made on 18 February 2026. A certificate of non-resolution has been issued by the CCMA.

The university has since received the requisite 48-hour notice from the three PASS unions on 23 February 2026. This means the union will embark on a strike action from 26 February 2026.

In accordance with the determination made by the CCMA, picketing will be between 07:00 and 16:30 and the locations are the Plaza on Upper Campus and Bremner Building on Lower Campus. Staff are reminded to observe the picketing rules. Any picket outside the prescribed period will be in violation of the picketing rules.

The executive reminds staff members that the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ will apply to staff members who participate in the strike. In this regard, line managers are required to take attendance registers daily at the start of work and forward these to the Human Resources Department. Management will not allow piece meal strike and will be bound by the strike notice time/period received from the PASS unions. Staff are required to inform their line managers if they will be participating in a strike action to enable management to activate contingency plans. Staff in the essential services department are also reminded of the signed Minimum Service Agreement in the protective services and in primary health care.

It is unfortunate that the bargaining process has not yielded a resolution to the dispute, and that picketing action has not been averted. The executive remains committed to reaching a mutually agreed resolution to the dispute. The executive regrets any inconvenience that might be experienced by any member of the UCT community during the period of the picketing action.

Communication and Marketing Department