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The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has successfully reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that will see all TVET College lecturers being paid their outstanding pay progression on or before 30 June 2017.

The agreement was reached today (9 May, 2017) at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
The settlement agreement comes after months of “wrangling” between SADTU and DHET.

On 19 September 2016, SADTU declared three disputes with DHET. These were:

• Failure or Refusal to bargain: This was as a result of the DHET’s failure to negotiate and finalise the draft collective agreement on the establishment of a Higher Education and Training Bargaining Chamber within the ELRC in order to cater for TVET and CET lecturers.
• Incorrect salary notches:  This emanated from the incoherent payment of cash “top-ups” to lecturers who were put on promotional posts without changing their notches. This had a negative impact on the pension contribution of lecturers
• Payment of 1% pay progression: A number of colleges across provinces have failed to pay the 1% pay progression to qualifying lecturers; whilst some colleges only paid a once-off cash bonus instead of 1% progression which would have had a carry-through effect on their salaries, improved notches and pension contribution.

SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke described the settlement as a victory for members of SADTU and all TVET lectures.
“We hope to emerge victorious once more on the two outstanding disputes – the incorrect salary notches and failure by the employer to bargain with SADTU,” Maluleke said.
The incorrect salary notches matter is set for arbitration on 25 and 26 May, 2017 and the Failure/Refusal to Bargain matter is set for arbitration on 22 May, 2017.

Issued by SADTU