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DA: statement by James Lorimer, Democratic Alliance shadow deputy minister of basic education, on Sadtu (14/03/2010)
Basic education Minister Angie Motshekga has been asked by teacher's union SADTU to stop dealing with other teacher's trade unions. The demand is contained in a proposal by SADTU, that it be the only union allowed to represent teachers in talks with the government.
Currently two other major unions, SAOU and NAPTOSA, are grouped together for the purposes of dealing with government. SADTU wants the grouping to be disallowed, which would drop each of the other unions below the threshold it wants for recognition by government.
In its letter, SADTU uses a number of specious and fundamentally undemocratic arguments:
It claims teachers are "confused" by having more than one union - a much-used and direct criticism of democracy; It claims a proliferation of unions will promote "industrial disharmony" - a clear attempt to give itself total and unchallenged power in negotiations; It says allowing one union will be "in the interests of labour peace" - a veiled threat that there will be no labour peace if it does not get its way.
SADTU's record of irresponsible strikes and protection of the worst teachers in our education system indicates that if it gets undisputed power to represent teachers it will push our teetering education system over the cliff of total failure.
Minister Motshekga should stand up to SADTU's bullying and should reject this proposal out of hand.
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