From the perspective of workers working at universities transformation must lead to an improvement in their working conditions, better wages, dignity and full participation in governance of these institutions. Outsourcing and the privatisation of services at universities is against transformation of these institutions as these measures lower labour standards and create a highly unjust system for workers at these institutions. This perpetuates the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.

Like cleaners in other universities, cleaners at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) – organised under the Persistent Solidarity Forum (PSF) – are engaged in a protracted struggle with the sole objective of securing their rights as guaranteed in the Constitution, shaping the transformation agenda of the institution and reversing outsourcing of cleaning services and other so-called non-core services.

During the course of this struggle the UJ management has revealed that there is a huge discrepancy between what UJ pays Elite Cleaning Company and what workers earn. Having access to the contract between UJ and Elite is an important step in taking the struggle for justice and a living wage for UJ cleaners forward and is part of on-going protest action and mobilisation to this end.

We are resolved to do everything necessary to compel the University Management and Elite to accede to our demands. The struggle for “Justice for UJ cleaners” will continue and will be intensified, because this is a just struggle. No victimisation and intimidation will stop us. We demand a living wage and improved working conditions. We demand that the contract between Elite Cleaning Company and the University of Johannesburg be made public.

Justice for UJ Cleaners!

Support the UJ cleaners’ struggle for transformation, an end to victimisation and discrimination and for a living wage!