Wednesday, January 23, 2019

COSATU Free State Supports Lesotho Teachers as They Struggle for Better Working Conditions as Professional Workers
COSATU Free State was buoyed last year when a collective agreement was entered into between the Trade Unions in Lesotho representing teachers namely Lesotho Teachers Trade Unions (LTTU), Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT) and Lesotho School Principals Association
(LESPA) signed a collective agreement with the Employer being Ministry of Education.

It was our expectation that the employer has negotiated in good faith and that the issues agreed upon the majority of which have got to do with the working conditions of the teachers and the general improvement of education would go a long way in improving the standard of education for an African child.

We were taken aback when an employer only made an attempt to address only one item out of the ten issues reflected on the agreement. We believe that it is up to the teachers to stand their ground and make sure that they earn their respect from the employer and to ensure that agreements are implemented as entered into in good faith at least from their side.

We are also shocked by the clear signs of attempts to intimidate and harass the leadership of the Trade Unions though a number of means including letters of arbitrary dismissals which teachers are now beginning to receive individually

As COSATU Free State, we put our full support behind the Teachers in Lesotho as they start the journey of revolutionizing the education system and improving their working conditions. We hereby implore upon all teachers in the Mountain Kingdom to take their lives into their own hands and wage this battle unrelentlessly as victory is certain.

As the teachers would be balloting for the strike we call upon all teachers to cast their ballot and to make the wise choice which will take the struggle further through mass campaigning.

We would like to remind the teachers in Lesotho that they have got nothing to lose but their chains and that in situations like this Unity is the power!

Issued by COSATU Free State

Enquiries Provincial Secretary Monyatso oa Mahlatsi @ 010 219 1373 or 076 115 9923

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