Unions up in arms over 6% increase

By Chanel September
24 April 2007

A proposed new wage increase offer of 6% has been slammed by teacher unions, as they demand an increase of 12%.

According to reports, if the settlement is not reached within the next few weeks, unions will have the right to call for mass action, bringing an estimated 1500 schools in the Western Cape to a standstill.

Earlier this month teachers in the province threatened to strike if their wage agreements were not met by next month.

Head of the National Professional Teachers Union Dave Balt says, “we are disappointed at the state’s offer of only 6%, and are not willing to settle for anything less than a two-figure increase”.

He added that, “that they would also want to interact with the National Minister of Eduation Naledi Pandor on the issue”.

Provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers Union Jonovan Rustin told a daily paper that, “the wage offer was pathetic as the state is offering only half of what we are demanding”.