blunomore
Honorary Master
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has said it will not sign government’s wage agreement for public servants unless members decided otherwise at its national congress.
The largest teachers’ union in the country is holding the congress on the East Rand this week.
The public service strike was suspended last month and unions have been given until next week to sign the agreement which offers workers a 7.5 percent wage hike.
Sadtu president Thobile Ntuli said the union is not selling out.
“As I speak now, the decision is that we are not signing, but of course all decisions taken will be reviewed by the congress. As congress ends, we will have a clear position,” he said.
Ntuli said the union’s national executive committee has decided not to sign the agreement. For the agreement to apply across the board it must be signed by 50 percent of the sector unions.
Labour has until 12 October to sign the agreement.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga was heckled and jeered by a handful of Sadtu members when she arrived at the congress earlier in the day.
But they were quickly shot down by Ntuli, saying those responsible would be dealt with.
Motshekga was unfased by the incident, saying it was only a handful of people involved.
ONE VOICE
Meanwhile, Cosatu’s Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said one of the main lessons learnt from the recent public sector strike is that there needs to be a single union for state employees.
He said it was tough getting Cosatu-affiliated unions to speak with one voice because of egos and differences of opinion.
http://www.ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=50140
The largest teachers’ union in the country is holding the congress on the East Rand this week.
The public service strike was suspended last month and unions have been given until next week to sign the agreement which offers workers a 7.5 percent wage hike.
Sadtu president Thobile Ntuli said the union is not selling out.
“As I speak now, the decision is that we are not signing, but of course all decisions taken will be reviewed by the congress. As congress ends, we will have a clear position,” he said.
Ntuli said the union’s national executive committee has decided not to sign the agreement. For the agreement to apply across the board it must be signed by 50 percent of the sector unions.
Labour has until 12 October to sign the agreement.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga was heckled and jeered by a handful of Sadtu members when she arrived at the congress earlier in the day.
But they were quickly shot down by Ntuli, saying those responsible would be dealt with.
Motshekga was unfased by the incident, saying it was only a handful of people involved.
ONE VOICE
Meanwhile, Cosatu’s Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said one of the main lessons learnt from the recent public sector strike is that there needs to be a single union for state employees.
He said it was tough getting Cosatu-affiliated unions to speak with one voice because of egos and differences of opinion.
http://www.ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=50140
