Teachers’ union marches in Port Shepstone for unemployed graduates
The union wants fair and equal treatment of staff and labour unions and speedy resolutions to school disputes brought to the department by unions.
National Teachers’ Union (NATU) Ugu region staged a march to the Ugu Education District Office to demand employment for graduates, some of whom are sitting at home for 10 to 15 years.
The protesters gathered at Christ Hani Square in Port Shepstone last Thursday, and were escorted by police as they led their peaceful demonstration to the district office, where they handed their list of grievances to the acting district director, Nkosinathi Madadi.
NATU’s chairperson Malombo Mngqosini read a list of grievances to Madadi and his management team. At first, Mngqosini acknowledged Madadi, a politician and a comrade he knows and struggled with for freedom, but said he is worried that teachers are still suppressed.
“We struggled for the liberation of teachers who were disrespected in the past, but we are still disrespected in this office. People sell jobs in this office and those who have money buy jobs here and get employed. We have poor and unemployed graduates who have stayed at home for 10 to 15 years without jobs because they have no money to bribe people in this office. We want this corruption to stop and that jobs must be advertised in newspapers for all to apply. The conduct of managers in this office must come to an end and people must get appointed officially. We want you, the acting director to be appointed district director,” said Mngqosini.
According to Mngqosini, the union wants fair and equal treatment of staff and labour unions and speedy resolutions to school disputes brought to the department by unions.
“School principals who say they do not want teachers affiliated to NATU must be called to order. Unemployed teaching graduates must be given preference when jobs are available in Ugu, and the recruitment needs to be fair and transparent. Double deductions for teachers who changed membership from SADTU to NATU must stop.”
Madadi said NATU’s complaints will be separated into those to be resolved by the province and the district office.
“We can resolve the matter of double deductions. However, the issue of filling vacant posts and advertising posts for first-time teachers is a matter that we are still working on and will be resolved shortly. Vacancies will be filled and new posts will be advertised, but I am not saying all of you protesting here will get employed,” said Madadi.
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