Members of Sadtu will continue their "work-to-rule" action until issues in the education sector are addressed. Picture: Sadtu
THE SOUTH African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysunie/South African Teachers Union (SAOU) in the Northern Cape embarked on a “work-to-rule” arrangement this week, where educators are only working the prescribed seven hours per day.
Teachers stated that they were normally expected to work over weekends, as well as on school and public holidays, without any additional compensation.
The School Governing Body Forum said it had handed over a memorandum to the Office of the Premier on Thursday in response to the “shambolic” state of education in the Frances Baard District.
The labour unions stated that teachers would refuse to work any overtime, including offering extra-mural activities, marking papers, or class preparation, until their grievances were addressed.
Sadtu members held pickets at the provincial office of the Department of Education and the Office of the Premier in Kimberley this week.
Sadtu provincial secretary Palesa Nqumashe said schooling would not be disrupted.
“Temporary teachers who were not paid for the month of January are still at their posts,” she said.
Nqumashe stated that schools were ill-prepared for the new academic year, with some expected to operate without electricity due to non-payment.
“There are no learning and teaching support material (LTSM) allocations, no funded food nutrition programmes and children cannot attend school due to the non-availability of learner transport,” she said.
“Educators did not receive performance bonuses or pay progression, with the employer reneging on the collective agreement.”
Nqumashe added that temporary teachers were not being appointed and vacant posts remained unfilled, as the function had been transferred to the Treasury.
“Officials are acting for years in posts without being appointed, with some posts being advertised and never filled. This moratorium on filling posts and the function shift to the Treasury poses a great challenge in our sector, affecting the timely appointment and remuneration of workers.
No support staff
“Our schools do not have support staff, even though they appear on the staff establishment.”
She indicated that they would give the Northern Cape Department of Education seven days to respond to their concerns, failing which they would embark on mass action.
SAOU provincial secretary Henk Brand said no acknowledgement of receipt had been made regarding their requests to meet with the MEC for Education to resolve the impasse.
“We have the same grievances as Sadtu and decided to join in their labour actions,” said Brand.
“Pupils are ultimately the worst affected, as teachers are not being offered the necessary support to do their jobs.”
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe explained that they were operating on a constrained budget and funding gaps of almost R600 million for the 2024/25 financial year.
“The department and the Northern Cape provincial government agreed to endure the budget cuts instead of retrenching over 600 educators in the Province. Sadtu and SAOU are well aware of the fiscal challenges all provinces are confronted with,” said Van der Merwe.
He noted that the “work-to-rule” actions of Sadtu and SAOU prohibited educators from undertaking any extra-curricular work.
“The department expects unions to be more understanding of our fiscal challenges before embarking on this action.”
He admitted that quality public education was being negatively impacted by financial constraints.
“The department has always maintained an open-door policy with organised labour to engage on matters of concern. The situation we find ourselves in is unfortunate and cannot be attributed to the mismanagement of funds or fruitless expenditure.
“The department will continue to work with the Provincial Treasury and the Office of the Premier to resolve our fiscal challenges.”
Van der Merwe added that payments to schools for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) were being processed this week.
“This will enable schools to provide a nutritious meal to learners for the rest of the first quarter.”