Teachers threaten to strike if demands not met

By Chanel September
10 April 2007

Teachers from schools in the Western Cape have threatened to strike, if wage demands agreements are not met by next month.

Teacher unions and government have been in talks for weeks to resolve the dispute between the parties.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union’s wage negotiator, Shireen Pardesi says that government is refusing to meet the union’s demand of 12 %.Instead they offered 5.3% increase.

According to reports government is also pushing for a multiterm agreement, which would mean unions will be able to negotiate for an increase until 2011.

Pardesi says that they will not planning to back down until their demands are met.

She added that talks are being held this week in an effort to reach an agreement as meetings have been scheduled for Thursday and Friday.