Times Of Swaziland: Govt moves to stop teachers' strike

Govt moves to stop teachers' strike
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 MDUDUZI MAGAGULA  on 08/04/2012 00:00:00


BY MDUDUZI MAGAGULA
MBABANE– Government has declared  illegal the proposed strike by teachers
billed for April 11 and 12.
Evart Madlopha, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service said the
strike was illegal because the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)
failed to give government seven days notice of intent.
In a letter to the union dated April 5, 2012, Madlopha said the seven days
notice was a requirement as prescribed by the Industrial Relations Act of 2000
as Amended.
He said Section 86 in general, when read together with Subsection 2, states that
the union was supposed to serve the employer, the Commissioner of Labour and the
Commission with notice of intention to engage in a strike action.
This means there is no public sector union that will be able to participate in
the strike action due to the above technicality.
None of the unions other than SNAT followed the procedure to strike.
Madlopha said government was notified on April 5 about the strike.
He urged the union to fully comply with the provisions of Section 86 of the Act.
Teachers decided had to embark on a strike to force government to increase their
wages by 4.5 percent.
The decision to strike was taken on April 4 when 6 342 teachers from a
membership amounting to 7 320 who were eligible to vote on the day, voted for
the strike action.
The union has an overall membership amounting to 9 831 and there are over 15 000
teachers who are in government’s employ.
The union said it wanted to strike following the issuance of a Certificate of
Unresolved Dispute dated March 12, 2012.
SNAT wants to embark on the mass strike action following the issuance of a
certificate of unresolved dispute to the union by the Conciliation Mediation and
Arbitration Commission (CMAC).
SNAT was awarded the certificate after talks on the cost of living adjustment
between the union and government fell through.
In the notice to government, the union said SNAT followed the principles that
guide a strike action as enshrined in the Industrial Relations Act of 2000 as
Amended.
Section 86 of the legislation prescribes that for a union to strike over 50 per
cent of its membership should vote for the strike action.
The strike was timed to coincide with the pro democracy demonstrations led by
teachers in the country last year which were halted by the security forces.
The teachers will strike alongside nurses and civil servants who are also
demanding that the government fund public services properly and pay them a
living wage.
Muzi Mhlanga, SNAT Secretary General briefly said they would meet on Easter
Monday (tomorrow) to discuss the matter. A decision will be taken then.
Vincent Dlamini, Secretary General of National Public Service and Allied Workers
Union (NAPSAWU) said his organisation was yet to vote to decide on the strike.