Union calls on teachers not to strike
South Africa's biggest teachers' union, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), says its members will not take part in Wednesday’s nationwide strike by the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU).
Sadtu spokesperson, Nomusa Cembi, says reports that teachers will not be in classrooms are untrue.
"We are expecting our members to be at work tomorrow because we did not make the call for members to go on strike.”
Cembi says Sadtu is an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and therefore they expect their members to be at work.
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"Sadtu and Cosatu members should know the difference between a living wage and minimum wage. Our demand for a living wage remains and we see the national minimum wage as one step towards realizing our living wage demand.”
Cembi says they do not believe Saftu followed the correct procedures in the run-up to the industrial action and the strike will thus be unprotected.
Saftu members will take to the streets on Wednesday in protest against the minimum wage and amendments to the country's labour laws.