The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) on Thursday rejected the proposed public-service annual increase of 10,5% and called for the resignation of Minister of Education Naledi Pandor.
Sadtu said the wage-increase announcement was made in the legislature with no prior reference to the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council.
”Sadtu rejects any notion that salaries for public servants can be simply announced from above, and reaffirms its commitment to free collective bargaining,” the union said.
The projected rate of CPIX — 9,5% over the next year — seriously underestimates the rate of inflation, it said. Currently CPIX is at 10,4% and projected to rise.
Sadtu therefore resolved to reject the present offer and demand the current rate of CPIX plus 1%, it said.
The union also declared a dispute on occupation-specific dispensation (OSD), saying it is ”appalled at the misinformation being spread by the minister and Department of Education in relation to OSD. The impression has been conveyed — in the minister’s budget speech and in adverts in the media — that the OSD is now signed, sealed and delivered.”
The union said that the agreement reached on OSD on April 3 was a framework agreement.
”Sadtu meanwhile held a collective bargaining workshop last month to strategise a way forward in regard to our engagement with the OSD process.
”The recommendations of the workshop were accepted by the national executive committee and involve the establishment of a number of task teams to research in depth the issues raised in the OSD package,” the union said.
It also called for Pandor’s resignation.
”In view of the current administrative crisis in the department, the refusal to negotiate or even consult with the profession on issues, and the failure of the minister to perform on key educational issues, Sadtu therefore calls for the immediate resignation of the minister of education.” — Sapa