DA in emergency services push for schools

THE DA wants the government to declare school principals, cleaners and catering staff essential services in an attempt to protect school children during teacher strikes.

DA MP Ian Ollis said strikes by teachers and other employees in the education sector have compromised children’s constitutional rights to safety, health and education.

Ollis was speaking at a media briefing in Parliament where he outlined the DA’s proposals for pupils’ safety during strikes.

“Learners are too often the casualties of this strike action, which sometimes becomes violent.”

Ollis said the DA supported the right to protest but said it should not be done at the expense of pupils.

“A pertinent example of the rights of certain categories of employees can found in the health sector. Nursing staff are freely able to strike with the exception of a crucial subset, the nursing staff of intensive care units.”

Ollis said the DA were meeting the essential services committee next month to request they conduct a study on the posts of principals being considered essential services as they are empowered by the Labour Relations Act to make this a reality.

“We are prepared to meet Cosatu and affiliate unions to address this matter,” he added.

Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said she was in full support of the proposal.

Western Cape secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers Union Jonovan Rustin said: “The DA’s proposal is completely wrong. The current categories cannot be declassified. It was issued in a private bill before but rejected in its totality. We believe it undermines the labour law and is anti-union.

“We know the DA has a very anti-union stance.”