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DGS of SADTU , CEC member of COSATU addressing the May Day Rally in the Northern Cape.

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MEDIA RELEASE

SADTU signs ground-breaking ELRC collective agreements

17 October, 2018

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) salutes the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) for concluding three crucial collective agreements that will ensure among others, the protection of the rights of a child and improve conditions of service of educators.
The ELRC presented the Agreements to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in Parliament today. They are:
· Collective Agreement No. 2 of 2018: Amendments to paragraph B 8.5.2 and Personnel Administrative Measures;
· Collective Agreement No. 3 of 3018: Providing for compulsory inquiries to arbitrators in cases of disciplinary action against educators charges the s*xual misconduct in respect of learners;
· Collective Agreement No 4 of 2018: The appointment and conversion of temporary educators to post on the educator establishment.
SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the Union, the largest in the education sector, signed the agreements that will ensure the permanent employment of teachers as part of providing quality education as a right to the children; ensure the re-employment of teachers and provide protection to learners from s*xual predators.
“These agreements go a long way towards ensuring labour peace in the education sector and a safe environment for learners to expose teachers who s*xually harass them,” Maluleke said.
The Collective Agreement No. 2 of 2018: Amendments to paragraph B 8.5.2 and Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM) seeks to regulate the re-appointment of educators after exiting the system. These teachers were barred from reappointment because of the current provisions in the PAM.
The Collective Agreement No. 4 of 2018 on the appointment and conversion of temporary educators to posts on the educator establishment provides for the employment security of temporary educators.
SADTU welcomes this Agreement with open arms as the issue of temporary educators has been a bone of contention between the Employer and the Union for quite some time. It led SADTU’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to resolve in May this year that provinces should collate the information of temporary educators occupying substantive posts for three months and more and declare disputes on behalf of all those members
We welcome the fact that the Agreement will take precedence over all existing provincial agreements regulating the appointment and conversion of temporary educators, except for where the provisions in existing provincial agreements provide for more favourable conditions to those contained in the national agreement.

SADTU supports and welcomes the groundbreaking Collective Agreement No 3 of 2018 which provides for compulsory inquiries by arbitrators in cases of disciplinary action against educators charged with s*xual misconduct in respect of learners. We hope this agreement will ensure that cases of s*xual misconduct will be speedily resolved as it will streamline the process and provide a one-stop process through arbitration.
Arbitrators with sufficient experience in hearings involving minor children as witnesses and victims will be appointed to deal with these special cases. Intermediaries will also be appointed to aid the child victim or witness to give evidence. The principle of fairness in dealing with hearings is fundamental and this agreement ensures that the rule of law is sacrosanct.
The Constitution of the country which SADTU members respect is based on human rights. The Code of Conduct of SADTU which precedes the country’s Constitution was based on human rights and the protection of the learners from s*xual harassment. The Code of Conduct adopted in 1990 prohibited a teacher from having a s*xual relationship with the learner. We see this collective agreement as taking forward our Code of Conduct and Congress resolutions on teachers exploiting our children. Seeing our learners as s*x objects is abhorred by our Union, SADTU. The teaching profession is about caring for the children and subjecting them to mental trauma on different platforms of hearings was unjustifiable and it had to come to an end.
“This Agreement will protect our children from those who see them as s*x objects and take advantage of their depressive social and economic conditions. Our Code of Conduct, which clearly says no to s*xual harassment of learners will finally find expression,” Maluleke said.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

CONTACT:
General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968
Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651
Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 719 5157

PAYMENT OF PAY PROGRESSION
The employer cited systemic problems to implement 1.3%, therefore only 1% pay progression shall be paid retrospective to july 2018, pending the resolve of the challenges. The remaining 0.3% for for 2018 shall also be paid retrospective to July once the challenge is resolved. The additional 0.2% shall be paid in July 2019 to make the entire 1.5% pay progression as per PSCBC Res 1 of 2018.

Resolution 1 of 2018 as signed by the majority of unions in PSCBC

SADTU POST NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) STATEMENT

28 May 2018

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) held its scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on 25 May 2018 at its National Office in Kempton Park, Gauteng. As the meeting coincided with Africa Day, the NEC used the opportunity to remind the Department of Basic Education and Government of the long-standing campaigns waged by SADTU for the promotion of African indigenous languages in our curriculum and the compulsory teaching of relevant African and South African history.
The meeting was the first after the conclusion of public service wage negotiations that dragged for eight months. The NEC conceded that the negotiations were the most challenging as the prevailing conditions were not in favour of workers. Government has auctioned the power to negotiate to the ratings agencies and lending institutions. The ratings agencies and international lending institutions seemed to influence indirectly the negotiations towards a particular outcome through threats of a ratings downgrade and international lending institutions “advice” to cut down the public sector wage bills and social spending from the national fiscus to please the ratings agencies.
Despite the challenging environment, the NEC believes that the final offer by the employer, after much persuasion by organized labour particularly from COSATU Joint Mandating Committee (JMC), was closer to what would have suited the workers. The NEC noted in particular the long-standing pay progression issue and the delinking of the housing allowance as significant victories for the workers. The Unions managed, under the circumstances, to secure a 2% above inflation increase for all public services employees.
Education matters
The NEC welcomed the Department of Basic Education’s IT strategy in schools. The NEC said it recognizes the role of IT and the need of education to keep up with changing times. It warned however, that the Department should always ensure that an instrument does not replace a teacher and that IT is not used to de-professionalize the teaching profession. The education system should always have a human element.
Post Provisioning Model
The NEC urged the national office bearers to continue prioritizing the review of the Current Post Provision Model as it is leading to overcrowding in rural and township schools. Overcrowded classes compromise the quality of education. “Our teachers are getting sick of the workload caused by teaching ‘Mass Meetings’,” the NEC noted. Further, the NEC called for the destruction of the two-tier education system for the haves and have-nots as seen through the small manageable class sizes in the ex-Model C schools and overcrowded ‘mass meetings’ in the townships and rural areas.
Policy Monitoring and Interventions

The NEC noted that the generation of policies by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) impacts on the work of teachers by changing their classroom roles without proper consultation with stakeholders. In most instances, DBE utilizes orientation workshops to introduce and bring about changes in the education system. The NEC called on our structures to be vigilant and oppose any amendments implemented without consultation.

Temporary teachers
The NEC noted the increasing numbers of educators who continue to work as temporary teachers across all provinces. The NEC resolved that provinces should collate the information of temporary educators occupying substantive posts for three months and more and declare a dispute on behalf of all those members. The NEC further resolved to take the matter to court as the Labour Relations Act (LRA) forced the employer to comply with the three-month probation.

The PSA/ANC Youth League Posture
The NEC raised strong objections to the stunts pulled by the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) during the wage negotiations. It is a well-known fact that the PSA has no traceable history of pulling any industrial action in the public service but they tried to fool the public by giving false militancy using rhetoric to get our members in particular to lose confidence in the leadership.
They may have played to the media gallery, but the workers and history know them. Their "Puppy Approach” strategy where a puppy barks loudly in a provocative manner whilst relying on the bull dogs to fight and bite, fell flat on its face this time around.
The PSA effectively wanted to drive COSATU aligned unions to a strike as it has no known organizational capacity to do so on its own.
Declaring a dispute on their part was disingenuous. They must come out clear as to why they have lodged a dispute on another dispute when they have a certificate to strike. The PSA must learn that a union that negotiates through the media is actually a paper tiger. The media is not a platform to negotiate. The volumes of airtime the media gave to the PSA has not translated in the improvement of the offer. The Unions that remained in the chamber and fought fiercely are the ones that pushed the employer to agree to the delinking of the housing allowance, pay progression parity and the salary adjustment amongst the other victories.
The PSA stunt is not new to collective bargaining processes, as records will show that they always break ranks with other unions on the last minute and decide not to sign. They did this in 2009 and again in 2011. They always threaten to strike but they never take to the streets. The only time you see the PSA on the streets is, when they are distributing white t-shirts and fighting for the visibility of their banner at marches with no actual members in attendance.
History has no blank pages and we know that the PSA has no scars of war and no experience of the pain inflicted by the “No Work No Pay” rule. It is a fact that when progressive “red unions” mount an industrial action, the PSA actively encourages its members to acquire affidavits stating that the striking workers prevented them from going to work.
The NEC said the PSA stunts, supported publicly by NUPSAW and SAFTU, are part of a bigger agenda to profile COSATU unions as toothless and use that narrative to counter-organize. We will not negotiate with the other unions because we know who the employer is. Just because PSA are a new affiliate and even the biggest affiliate of FEDUSA, this should not intoxicate them. Numerical arrogance in any coalition or working together arrangement including in federations is an indicator of an organization with no political clarity. Unity of the workers is of paramount importance in negotiations and improvements of working conditions.
SADTU is the biggest union in the Public Service Co-ordination Bargaining Council (PSCBC) but it has never undermined any union because we believe in the unity of the workers. SADTU has never waved its majority vote weight in the face of any union because SADTU is a progressive fighting union. SADTU does not make threats to strike she will not implement. SADTU has signed the agreement because of a mandate from her members and understood the difficult conditions the workers are facing. We challenge all unions that are ready to sign to do so with clear conscience. They should not allow PSA who always breaks ranks with allies to coerce them.
ANCYL
These negotiations exposed us to developments unheard of before; the ANCYL that never commented on labour issues suddenly found courage to release a statement on what is happening at the PSCBC. This was clearly for political expediency. The ANCYL has not released a statement of any significance for almost three years and yet has now found a voice. The ANCYL’s silence is deafening when young people lose their lives in pit toilets in schools and subjected to over-crowded classrooms.
Drug abuse, gangsterism, bullying, victimization and beatings of teacher by learners and s*xual abuse of the girl child are rife in our school but we have never heard the ANCYL making a noise about these challenges.
The ANCYL is facing contestation as it approaches its own congress. Its statement suggests it could be suffering from a “Nasrec hangover” and that the real intention of such public utterances are to pit public servants against the leadership of the ANC and government. The NEC vowed not to allow SADTU to be used as pawns in a political chess game.
Attacks on SADTU
The NEC noted the continued attacks on SADTU from among others, the DA leader Mmusi Maimane and lately the IFP and the NGO Sector.
Responding to the President’s budget vote speech, Maimane “advised” the President to “rein in SADTU”. Later the IFP also made the same call.
These attacks on SADTU are a well-orchestrated move to position the Union as public enemy number one before the elections. Every corner of this country has a classroom and by implication a member of SADTU. With the perception that the tripartite alliance and its components are archrivals of monopoly capital, therefore those who are providing a strong support base for the ANC must be discredited. The influence that SADTU has in the political discourse both quantitatively and qualitatively makes it the perfect and ideal target for the working class enemy.
With general elections approaching, the real intention of the opposition alliance consisting mainly of the DA, EFF, COPE and the IFP is to weaken the ANC by weakening its strategic supporters particularly SADTU. This is the reason why the leader of the EFF addressing the elderly in Seshego in 2017 accused SADTU members of being “drunkards that came late to class and lacked professionalism”.
The opponents of SADTU and the tripartite alliance conglomerate do not consist only of opposition parties. Some NGO, civic and even non-profit research organizations that are in cohorts with the mainstream media. The latest example is the South African Institute of Race Relations. This organization recently published research results that provide compelling evidence that parents and not politicians and teachers, run schools
The report argues that the bulk of our state schools “are not in the main inferior because of a shortage of money. Many emerging markets spend less on education than South Africa, but produce much better results”.
The report continues to suggest that in South Africa’s case, however, “corruption, destructive trade unions, ideological dogma, and incompetent bureaucrats and politicians are responsible for the fact that only a small [minority] of children will be well educated”. It concludes by tabling frivolous recommendations that include that all public schools must be “sold” to NGOs, parents and private education providers, etc.
As SADTU, we agree that parents should be involved in the education of their children even in schools. However, this study and its recommendations are one of the many attempts to bringing through the back door, the privatization of education. We are opposed to privatization of education.
Another article published in April in a daily major newspaper on the public service wage negotiations, the author who is a senior researcher from the IRR speaks about the contradictory relationship that Margaret Thatcher had with the powerful trade unions of the UK and how she ultimately diluted their power. The author then makes an example about SADTU in a South African context. He makes use of the words “the untouchable SADTU in South Africa” in a veiled attempt to incite public opinion against us. He argues that the union is in the forefront of a burgeoning public sector wage bill that would lead to downgrades. Let us expose this politically confused author and the IRR for not following the dictates of research. They have allowed the popular narrative led by the DA to influence their findings if those were findings at all and the bizarre recommendations. What is collapsing governments in Africa is not SADTU or any union. It is how African governments are allowing millions of dollars to leave the continent in illicit schemes. It is the lack of action by the people of Africa to halt this criminal behavior by the rich countries. Numerous provide real evidence, and not faked findings by IRR, that $192bn is out of Africa each year whilst Africa receives $30bn in aid each year. This should concern an Institute that really cares about race relations in South Africa.
When Africans demand their land and call for their dignity to be restored as human beings we expected IRR to lead the campaign by providing quality evidence of what the Africans are experiencing on a daily basis and how returning the land to them impact their dignity. If the SAIRR is to restore its integrity, it must use hard facts from proper research and not popular narratives.
The recent report is frivolous and aimed at advancing the DA agenda of privatization of education and all public services as we approach the general elections. This Institute goes against the UN resolutions not to sell education because privatization of education leads to polarization and inequalities. We reject the report with the contempt it deserves. We call upon the leadership of this Institute to join us as we fight against tax evasion and other illicit financial flows facilitated through tax havens because these criminal activities are the ones destroying governments and robbing the nations of money to fund public education.
Our people are angry; they are poorly serviced because government has to pay debts following irresponsible loans. Our people in the continent are angry because multinational companies are making $46bn in Africa but leave this continent poor. Is it not the role the IRR is supposed to play in informing our people instead of being the DA election manager?
SADTU will not allow herself to be the scapegoat for the ills that the country faces

Posture on the National Minimum Wage:
The NEC criticized the so-called “national shut down” to fight against the National Minimum Wage led by the former General Secretary of COSATU. It described the “shut down” as nothing but a charade meant to parade the leadership of a limping new federation that relies on one union for its very survival.
These enemies of worker unity led the workers onto the streets on an unprotected action based on lies in an attempt to gain relevance within the labour movement discourse.
The former General Secretary of COSATU who led our Federation for no less than 20 years as a flag bearer demanding a legislated National Minimum Wage developed a sudden onset of amnesia. The enemies of worker unity were contending that the minimum R20 per hour rate was too miniscule yet their largest affiliate signed two collective agreements in two sectors of R18 and R21 just last year.
The leadership of that SAFTU whose membership is still unverifiable has no class-consciousness in its trajectory; is self-centered and sees nothing wrong with dividing workers. Addressing the march, the General Secretary of that federation could not complete a sentence without mentioning COSATU. This goes to show that the real aim of their charade was to demonize COSATU.
International relations
The NEC condemned Israel for continuing to subject the people of Palestine to sub-human conditions in their own land. It however commended the South African government for withdrawing its ambassador to Israel after the mass murder of unarmed Palestinians recently. Our freedom is partly due to the solidarity from outside our borders; we will therefore have to strengthen our solidarity with Palestine. The children of Palestine deserve a peaceful environment conducive to learners and not bullets, torture and imprisonment they face every day.
We are going to mobilize our masses to boycott Israel goods and campaign for international sanctions against Israel. The world cannot standby and leave Israel and the Trump administration to violate international rules. The NEC called on the United Nations to conduct and independent enquiry into the latest killings and deal decisively with those found to be responsible.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to our sister union with the lost of a dedicated and committed cadre!

The reality of life is that one day death will come knocking at our door. It could be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, comrade or someone you love.

The ANC, DENOSA and communities of JTG are mourning the unexpected passing of a giant, dedicated fighter of the workers, friend to others, Colleagues to others, dedicated member of the mob team, nurse by profession and committed leader of our organisation.... Cde Tebogo Koikanyang!

The ANC in JTG convey heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family, friend, comrades and all the people who knows him!

20 May 2018.
SADTU Update On Salary Negotiations.

Update regarding public service wage negotiations

DATE: 18 May 2018
PRETORIA

The PSCBC is pleased to announce that the Parties to Council have concluded the wage negotiations for the public service.

The agreement addresses amongst other the following areas;

SALARY ADJUSTMENTS

The salary adjustment for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019, effective from 1 April 2018, for employees on salary levels 1-12 will be as follows:

Salary Levels 1 to 7 7%Salary Level 8 to 10 6.5%; andSalary Level 11 to 12 6%PAY PROGRESSION

Parties agree to the equalization of pay progression across the public service at 1.5% per annum to employees appointed in the public service in terms of the following legislation;

Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998 (as amended);Police Service Act 68 of 1995 (as amended);Public Service Act 103 of 1994 (as amended); and theEducators appointed in terms of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 (as amended)

Implementation to be 1 July 2018 & 1 July 2019 respectively.

HOUSING

Parties agree to the delinking of the payment of the housing allowance of spouses.

Parties agree to the incremental implementation of the delinking of the housing allowance as follows:

Delinking of the housing allowance for spouses of employees on salary level 1-5 with effect from 1 September 2018;Delinking of the housing allowance for spouses of employees on salary level 6-12 with effect from 1 September 2019.

Parties will reconvene on Monday 21 May 2018 at 11:00 for signing the agreement. The full contents of the agreement will be published after parties have appended their signatures to the agreement.

The PSCBC would like to thank parties for concluding this key agreement. We acknowledge the leadership of the Minister of Public Service and Administration and Leadership of the Trade Unions, managing this very tedious process over a prolonged period with all of the challenges we faced.

We also want to express our appreciation to public servants tolerating the prolonged process and allowing us to find an amicable solution without having to revert to industrial action.

Thank you to our facilitators Kaizer Thebedi and Ingrid Dimo for guiding us to this conclusion.

Mr Frikkie De Bruin
PSCBC: General Secretary

Enquiries:
Frikkie De Bruin: 082 896 5006