TEACHERS’ union Sadtu has vowed to help teachers who claim they are being exploited at a private school.
This is after 14 teachers from Holy Angels Private School in Mthatha said they have had a year-long battle with their employers for a salary increase.
The teachers staged a picket at a school function held last month, but have so far been offered an increase of only R300.
According to payslips seen by the SunTeam, the highest paid teacher earns R1 900 per month while the rest take home just above R1 500.
All of the teachers have qualifications – some even have honours degrees – and are registered with the SA Council of Educators.
They said they had no benefits such as leave days or any other benefits that the public sector teachers had.
One teacher said: “Our heads of department wrote to employers asking for an increase for all staff. They didn’t respond until we approached Saccawu to help us.
“Recently my employers gave me notice of a wage increase, offering me R300 more which would bring my salary to R2 200, but I refused,” said the teacher.
“We have been suffering in silence for years,” said another teacher.
School owner Suma Pullukatu said they had asked labour relations lawyers, Small Enterprise Employers of SA to represent them at the CCMA and other negotiations.
“These teachers are saying so many harmful things about us while we have done our best. The teachers walked out of negotiations. All our efforts have been fruitless,” she said.
Sadtu OR Tambo region secretary Siyabonga Gashi confirmed that Saccawu had approached them to help the teachers.
“The entry level teacher salary should be R15 000 excluding benefits. We will try to help them get a decent living wage. That school is subsidised by government per learner and the State should do their share and get involved in this matter,” added Gashi.
