Sadtu backs collective bargaining

THE SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has vowed to defend collective bargaining in the education sector and quality public education as the 2016 school year got under way yesterday.

The union claimed collective bargaining was under threat from the employer, the Department of Basic Education.

“As we were about to end the year 2015, we sensed a distinct threat that our hard-earned gains as organised labour face the threat of being reversed.

“The threat was articulated by the Volmink report on the selling of teaching posts, which Sadtu has read and will respond to in due course,” the union said yesterday.

“We are highlighting this because South Africa is a democratic country that respects international laws and human rights.

“As we navigate 2016, we will be vigilant and ensure that our gains are not reversed because we engaged in these struggles so that ultimately this country receives quality public education for all.”

The union said 2016 should be a year in which the government improved the working conditions of teachers and their salaries.

“The year 2016 should be the year in which the Presidential Remuneration Review Commission, appointed by President Jacob Zuma in 2013 to investigate the pay and working conditions of public servants, provides us with tangible work on improving the conditions of work and salaries of teachers as promised by the president.”

The union further said teaching should start on the first day of school and that members of its national working committee would visit schools to ensure that all the systems were in place.