The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has strongly condemned the shooting of its members with rubber bullets - without any provocation - by metro police during a march in the South of Johannesburg today.
The shooting left six SADTU members injured - two suffered head wounds.
Our members were part of a peaceful march by thousands of Public Service Union members in Ormonde heading towards the MI when metro police who were part or a group that was trying to keep up with the marchers suddenly opened fire without giving a warning.SADTU condemns violence against or conducted by our members. The Union’s policy denounces violence and intimidation from any quarter. Our members have a democratic right to engage in a march or any form of demonstration. The action by Metro Police was extremely provocative and has no room in the new democratic South Africa. The right to engage in a march is enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Such action by police won’t deter us from continuing to engage in pickets and marches until our demands are met.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
SADTU MEMBERS HEED THE CALL TO STRIKE AND RESPOND TO MINISTER BALOYI’ S DECISION TO SIGN OFF AGREEMENT-18 August 2010 SADTUSADTU would like to report a resounding success on the first day of an indefinite strike as more than 90% of our members heeded the call for a complete shutdown of schools. SADTU’s National Executive Committee announced on Tuesday that the Union would embark on a full-blown strike until the Government met its wage demands.
SADTU members, together with all members of Public Service unions met, held branch and regional mass meetings to unfold the programme of action. Marches and pickets were also held in various branches and regions.
Most of the marches and pickets were peaceful except in KwaZulu Natal where our members were shot with rubber bullets at Ezakheni branch and their cars stoned in EThekwini on Tuesday. We want to put it categorically clear that the Union policy denounces violence and intimidation. We cannot condone any form of violence from any quarter. Our action is about legitimate and genuine demands and we shall pursue our resolve in a peaceful manner.
In the Eastern Cape, the turnout was 70% due to the fact that most members are in remote areas and could not get the message sooner. However, the leadership managed to reach most areas by end of day yesterday we hope for a 100% support for the strike today.
All provinces have determined their central meeting places and picket lines for today and other days to come.SADTU has condemned the manner in which Public Service Minister Richard Baloyi chose to address the wage impasse issue by threatening to sign off the agreement unilaterally. The government’s decision to declare policy is a threat to future negotiations and cannot go unchallenged. This decision is reactionary and provocative and we can only warn that this approach will harden attitudes of our members. We call upon the government to stop this bullying tactic and respond to the demands of the workers. Government cannot afford not to accede to the legitimate demands of the public service workers.
The World Federation of Trade Unions (W.F.T.U.) has expressed support for the Union’s wage demands. The statement of support sent by the WFTU Secretariat reads, “The WFTU has been informed about the full scale indefinite strike over wages beginning with a total shut down on 18 August 2010 carried out by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). We can understand that in this period it is very significant that workers with the leadership of their Union organize a strong struggle and they struggle for their rights. The WFTU believes that the struggle of the Union is very important for the workers of Africa and we also believe that it is a fair struggle. We support the strike of the workers and their demands. We call for the expression of solidarity. "When one part of the working class wins, then we all win.”
Issued by : SADTU
SADTU EMBARKS ON AN INDEFINITE STRIKE OVER WAGES-
17 August 2010SADTUSADTU NEWS
The National Executive Committee of The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has taken a unanimous decision that the Union will embark on a full scale indefinite strike over wages beginning with a total shut down from tomorrow (18 August 2010). The announcement was made at a special NEC meeting in Isando in Johannesburg today (17 August,2010).
The members totally rejected the latest government offer of R700 for housing allowance, 7% of salary adjustment and the 1st July implementation date and have shown overwhelming support for a strike.
Our demands remain the same, 8.6% salary adjustment, R1000.00 for housing allowance, equalisation of medical aid and 1st April implementation date.The NEC also noted the utterances by the State President Jacob Zuma and strongly condemned his statement.
The government has a responsibility to honour the demands by workers without trivialising them. Politics cannot be separated from the struggle for labour rights. It must be clear that wages cannot be separated from service delivery, so is politics. The current macroeconomic policy, which is a political matter, is responsible for low wages in the public services.
The NEC further resolved to work with the Joint Mandating Committee (COSATU-aligned public service unions) and the broader labour caucus in developing a programme of action.
The strike programme will include a total shut down of institutions. Branch meetings will be convened on the 18 August to formally communicate the decision of NEC.
தென்னாபிரிக்காவில் தொழிற்சங்கப் போராட்டம்South African Democratic Teacher's Union member is escorted by a colleague as he bleeds from the head after a police fired rubber bullets on protesters in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday Aug. 19, 2010. Unions are demanding an 8.6 percent wage increase and a 1,000 rand ($137) housing allowance. The government is offering a 7 percent increase plus 700 rands ($96) for housing. In a statement Thursday, the government said it could not afford to offer more. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
"Those who break the laws must not expect any sympathy from the law enforcement agencies."
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