Making teachers part of essential services

Durban – The Essential Services Committee (ESS) was asked to rank management team members as essential services to ensure minimal staff presence in schools during teacher strikes and for safety students.

The committee, which reports to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CCMA), holds public hearings across the country to determine whether a minimum level of service should be declared for school personnel. It was in Durban last week.

The services controlled by ESC in the public sector are considered essential and are therefore prevented from going on strike.

The Union of Democratic Teachers SA (Sadtu) declared that they would "vehemently oppose" any attempt to declare an essential service in sections of the education system.

DA Spokesperson for Education, Dr. Rishigen Viranna, introduced at The Committee argued that a minimum level of service must be established in schools so that children are not left unattended during strikes or union meetings.

"Not all teachers we want to declare as an essential service. It is the director and badistant director, catering, cleaning staff, those who take care of residential school students and those who take care of early childhood development.

He said that students from Umlazi's Comtech High School had been left unattended following a strike near the school recently. In May, unpaid Grade R teachers dropped out of clbades and went to demonstrate in Pietermaritzburg.

"The establishment of a minimum level of service for school staff will allow students to learn in a safe environment. If children are not safe at school, their chances of academic success and securing future jobs are sabotaged, "he said.

Viranna stated that they were concerned about Sadtu's opposition to the proposal.

"There were many members of Sadtu's union present at submissions that intimidated some of those who wanted to talk," he said.

Allen Thompson of the National Union of Teachers (Natu) stated that they would also oppose the proposal.

"We will send a comprehensive response to Pretoria in the coming weeks, when there is a strike, the students are sent home and the school gates are locked," he said. 19659002] Bheki Shandu, Deputy Provincial Secretary of Sadtu, stated that he objected that even parts of the education system should be considered an essential service.

"The DA missed the point in their submissions. When there is a strike, there are no pupils at school. They can not say that school management must be an essential service, because each school has about five managers. How will they care for 600 children? "

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