Flimsy threat to strike over declaring teaching an essential service proves exactly our point

Only a month after committing itself to a social contract for improving education, SADTU has threatened to go on strike should the Democratic Alliance continue to work towards having teaching declared an essential service (see here).

This just makes the DA's point again about the irresponsibility and selfishness of this union, which despite having signed a charter committing itself to professionalism, continues to threaten to strike on any flimsy excuse. The DA calls on SADTU's leadership to act in terms of the principles of the social contract it has just signed and retract its strike threat statement.

Following the release of a media statement from the DA earlier this week saying that we would be making a submission to the Essential Services Committee to have teaching declared an essential service - as is the case for police and health workers - a SADTU spokesperson stated that "we will not accept the reduction of teachers' rights ... we'll fight them and even take to the streets."

On 11 January SADTU became a signatory to the "social contract for education" which is an important document aimed at committing the parties involved, including SADTU and two other teachers' unions, to developing a "true culture of learning, teaching and discipline".

Yet there has since then been no indication that SADTU actually intends to follow through with a genuine commitment to implementing these principles. In fact, its latest statement suggests exactly the opposite.

Rather than offering to constructively engage with the DA about its proposals, or to submit an objection to the essential services committee, SADTU immediately threatens the most destructive course of action possible.

South Africa's matric pass rate falls further every year because SADTU, which represents a significant part of the teacher body, does not take responsibility for the negligence and indifference of many of its members. It should focus on this problem.

Statement issued by Junita Kloppers-Lourens, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of basic education, February 11 2010

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