INLSA

The Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools has lambasted the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in KZN for threatening a two-week go-slow, which would culminate in the “mother of all marches” at the end of the month.

Federation CEO Paul Colditz said that the intended mass action was “deplorable”, and that the children of the working class would be most affected.

Sadtu is demanding that the provincial Education Department sack 10 000 teachers affiliated to a rival union; that the department “dissolve” its legal unit; and that 60 000 Sadtu members be refunded money that was docked from their salaries for participating in a strike in 2010. However, education superintendent-general Nkosinathi Sishi said that he and MEC Senzo Mchunu were to meet Sadtu last night.

The 10 000 teachers who Sadtu want fired belong to the National Teachers Union (Natu). According to a Durban Labour Court decision upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the department was ordered to reimburse thousands of Natu members who claimed not to have participated in the 2010 strike.

Sadtu, however, argues that the Natu teachers had an unprotected strike and should be fired.

Meanwhile, Cosatu confirmed yesterday that Sadtu would join its marches against labour broking and e-tolling in KZN on March 7.