SADTU marches a resounding success
SADTU is happy with the turnout and support for the marches to Parliament in Cape Town and the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday. Thousands of SADTU members took part in the marches in defence of collective bargaining and promotion of quality public education calling for Basic Minister Angie Motshekga and Director General to resign from their positions.
Leading the national march in Pretoria, COSATU President S'dumo Dlamini announced the labour federation's full support for SADTU's demands. Leading the national march in Cape Town, COSATU 2nd Vice President Zingiswa Losi announced the Federation's full support for Teachers' demands. She further pointed out that the march by the teachers was not a sign of irresponsibility but a demonstration of responsibility for the future of children.
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) and the South African Young Communist League (SAYCL) also expressed their support. COSATU affiliates SAMWU, POPCRU, NEHAWU, SADNU, DENOSA and SAMA issued messages of support.
SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke read out the memorandum in Cape Town while Deputy General Secretary Nkosana Dolopi did the same at the Union Buildings Gardens. The memorandum called on the President to:
- Fire Bobby Soobrayan and the Minister Angie Motshekga to tender her resignation with immediate effect;
- cause the Department of Basic Education to implement Collective Agreement 1 of 2011;
- cause the department to deliver learner teacher materials (LTSM) in all school,
- cause the department to fill all vacant and funded posts with an emphasis on ABET and Early Childhood Development practitioners and regulate their conditions of service;
- reinstate all temporary teachers in all provinces;
- the Department of Basic Education to stop frustrating the forensic audit on the abuse of funds by the Director General in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC);
- cause the Department to conclude the process of bringing about parity to the notches of teachers with the rest of the Public Service by no later than the Sixth of May, 2013;
- Implement an infrastructure maintenance plan by utilizing the R800 million conditional grant with immediate effect;
- cause the department to work with unions to review the current post provisioning norms and deal with overcrowding;
- cause the department to respect collective bargaining and recognize all signed collective agreements and legally binding;
- cause the department to provide schools with the minimum required resources including the payment of norms and standards due to all schools as a matter of urgency;
- cause the department to provide teachers with laptops as tools of trade;
- cause the department to stop pronouncing policy on media before concluding consultation and or negotiations.
We have given the President 21 days to look and attend to our demands. The National Executive of the union will meet during week ending 3rd May 2013 to chart the way forward.
Statement issued by SADTU, April 26 2013
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
