The proposed SADTU GO-slow is regrettable and unfortunate
SADTU has called for a go-slow. This undertaking will include not teaching in class and markings. Furthermore, it will include resigning themselves from going to government paid teacher trainings and workshops because they demand the resignation of Minister Angie Motshekga and her Director General because the department has reneged to its commitment as encapsulated in the collective agreement with regard to outstanding payments the department had committed to the teachers. And so, once again, the victim here would be an African child as I have never heard of white teacher union undertaking to join the same with the effect that schooling disruptions will be unavoidable.
For me, the operational line, is why a black child has to bear the consequences!
The department appeals for a Court process to be the arbiter on this matter arising from a collective agreement before any action is pursued. The demands made by our union notwithstanding, the question that must be answered is what about the fate of the black children in rural areas and townships who stand to suffer out of this brinkmanship.
Is this the only route at our disposal as a union left to push and strong-arm the department into this issue including options of escalating to the COSATU leadership for a direct ANC engagement? Comrade Maluleke strikes me as too angry within the collective on this matter. To boycott teacher improvement workshops and training sessions just because we want a resignation of the Minister and the DG, does this radiate any form of intellectual rationality.
Who stand to lose from capacitation workshops between government and educators? If the answer is that it's the educators, then, where is the long term view in our decisions beyond the today's mutual manhandling. Non SADTU teachers and mostly white employed by government will attend these workshops and black teachers will boycott them.