INDUSTRIAL COURT RULES IN FAVOUR OF UNESWA IN DISPUTE WITH UNIONS

UNESWA Emblem (Sourced online)

Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze

On Tuesday 5th March 2024 the Industrial Court of Eswatini ruled in favour of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) in their application to have the action of the two recognised unions ,ALAAP and NAWUSHI , be declared unlawful. ALAAP is the Association of Academic and Administrative Personnel while NAWUSHI is the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions.

The application had been launched by UNESWA in response to protests by the two unions in the days leading to the court process. The university had submitted three prayers to the court, to get the two unions and members to abandon their work boycott, to interdict members of ALAAP and NAWUSHI from calling for the resignation of the UNESWA Managements and to ask the curt to give them permission to derecognise the two unions.

The court ordered that members of ALAAP as well as NAWUSHI were indicted from further participating in the work stoppage that had commenced from 26th February 2024. Secondly the court restrained members of ALAAP and NAWUSHI from calling for the resignation of the management of UNESWA. The court then directed the Royal Eswatini Police to ensure peace and order at UNESWA. No order was given to costs of the application which meant that all parties paid for their own legal representation in the matter.

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