Sadtu E-Voice #2
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The Line of March: Report of the Political Commission SADTU’s Political Commission met on 21 January to plan for the coming year. An immediate issue is how to deal with any defections to Cope. The Commission rejected proposals to simply expel SADTU members who join the Shikota faction. We are talking about an insignificant number, and the feeling was that the hype around Cope will fade once the elections are over and the scramble for positions subsides. Moreover, SADTU’s constitution does not prescribe members’ political and ideological allegiance. But there is a deeper issue here, which goes to the heart of trade unionism. As SADTU, we organize all employees in the education sector as workers – on the basis of our common interests – irrespective of political allegiance, race, creed or gender. That is what a trade union does, the world over. That is how we build the unity and strength of our organization. But as a revolutionary trade union, within the COSATU tradition, SADTU does not limit itself to bread and butter issues in the workplace. The interests of our members – as workers, teachers and citizens – can only be fully advanced if we participate in wider political processes and debates. With this in mind, after much debate within its structures, SADTU has democratically endorsed the strategic alliance of the ANC, SACP and COSATU as the only vehicle capable of taking forward South Africa’s national democratic revolution, and securing genuine economic freedom for all. How then do we, as a Union, deal with dissenting voices within the organization? We engage with them in open political debate. We recognize the right of every member to exercise freedom of thought and association. But what we will not tolerate – and the Political Commission was very clear on this – is any attempt by any individual member to use the structures and platforms of SADTU to undermine or oppose the policies and positions democratically adopted by the Union. Elections Campaign The Political Commission commended the SADTU organizing team that had assisted in mobilizing mass support for the East London ANC rally on the 8th January, and the important interventions made in the manifesto process. Building on this success, the Commission recommended the following measures:
Teacher Forums These will be held over the next two months to popularize the quality learning and teaching campaign, secure mandates for salary negotiations and to report back on major issues of the day. The timing of forums will be negotiated in terms of existing agreements to ensure minimal disruption of teaching. National Teacher Development Summit The Commission welcomed the Department’s commitment to hold a National Teacher Development Summit during the year. It was recommended that SADTU establish its own focused TD committee to distribute information, coordinate activities, facilitate debate within the Union and to assist SADTU to further develop its vision for teacher training and development. This is a major intervention which will affect all teachers in the future, and teachers must make a powerful input to ensure that we get it right. Planning for the summit is underway with the formation of a coordinating committee including all stakeholders – unions, DoE, SACE, ELRC and the SETA. A technical committee will oversee research and content issues in preparation for the summit, including:
The main objectives of the summit include:
It is envisaged that the summit will take place mid-year, but that a public process of preparation will be launched – as part of the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign – around March. Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign The Political Commission reviewed the progress of the Campaign, and recommended that SADTU provincial structures need to work with MECs and provincial departments to establish inclusive provincial campaign steering committees by the end of February in order to launch the campaign at provincial level. The Political Commission reiterated the decision of the National General Council last year that the QLT Campaign needs to be a national priority for the Union. It was also vital that we remain true to the original vision of the campaign: that all stakeholders – teachers, learners, parents, communities and the Department of Education – need to identify their different responsibilities and commit to carrying these out in order to build a solid basis for quality education.
As a reminder we have included the pledge made by SADTU president, comrade Thobile Ntola, at the launch of the Campaign in October:
“We are here as stakeholders in this great education enterprise to commit ourselves to support the Campaign for Quality Learning and Teaching. The Campaign calls on all of us to clearly identify our roles and responsibilities in delivering quality education. As educators we are obliged to live and work according to the Code of Conduct agreed by the South African Council for Educators. As trade unionists we have developed our own additional codes which govern appropriate conduct of educators, and between educators and learners and colleagues. We have said – that as part of this campaign - we will sign up to the following non-negotiables: As a TEACHER, in line with the South African Council of Educators (SACE) Act 31 of 2000, I promise to:
As teacher unions we have called for adequate resources, training and support for teachers. In supporting this Campaign for Quality Learning and Teaching Working, we are also affirming that as educators we have a vital role to play in ensuring that quality education becomes a reality for all our children.”
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