Another union slates Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga

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Teachers union, Naptosa, has slated Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, for her decision to withdraw from Collective Agreement One, which relates to the tariffs paid to exam markers.

Naptosa president Basil Manuel, said for the union, the issue is not just about marking tariffs, as important as that may be, but rather the undermining of collective bargaining process by the Employer.

"As far as NAPTOSA is concerned, the issue confronting teacher unions and the Department of Basic Education is not just about marking tariffs, as important as that may be, but rather the undermining of collective bargaining by the Employer and the consequences that may result from this breach of good faith," said Manuel.

He said "the discontent around the failure to implement the collective agreement which determines the matric marking tariffs has its roots in the negotiation process in 2010. During that year, teacher unions in the ELRC negotiated a 100% increase in the tariffs for matric markers and other examination related work."

On Wednesday the SA Democratic Teachers Union, Sadtu, called on Motshekga to resign over the same issue.

The union said its members have embarked on a work to rule process in schools country-wide and has also threatened strike action of Motshekga does not go.

Meanwhile, the ANC says Sadtu is now accustomed to calls for resignations of senior public officials in the Department of Basic Education.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, said the union is missing an opportunity to contribute positively to the debate on making education an essential service.

"Such a resolution is intended to focus in improving the education of a black child.
This resolution will ensure that we provide education that will contribute to the socio- economic transformation and emancipation of a black child in the South African economy," he said.

Mantashe said "we have hope and trust in the collective leadership of SADTU that they will use this opportunity to contribute to this resolution of ensuring that education becomes an essential service."