February 9, 2023 at 8:41 am
Press Release: No serious trade union would lead its members to the edge, resulting in termination from employment
The MUT has been following the situation regarding directives at ITS whereby UPE clearly used lecturers to test its powers to negotiate collective issues even though it does not represent the majority of lecturers at ITS. The very few lecturers following UPE directives were misled and were given false assurances about the right of UPE to order collective industrial action by claiming that the MUT collective agreement no longer applies. Some of these lecturers approached the MUT upon noticing the way they were being used by UPE and have sought separate legal advice following which they stopped the collective directives. Upon voicing their dissent to the UPE, they received a hefty bill for legal assistance which was never provided to them by UPE. The UPE instead used its only two remaining faithful lecturers who continued to support its cause and dragged them further in the dispute, resulting in disciplinary procedures which unfortunately resulted in their termination. It is clear that UPE not only failed in its strategy for collective representation but has placed its two members at serious risk by leaving them uncovered in a disciplinary procedure which led to their termination. No serious union would ever drag members in a cause that can lead to their dismissal. Serious unions have always acted to protect their members from any negative consequence to their employment, and have successfully done this for years.
