Business Day *Despite a 44% increase in 4 years - SADTU wants more* *Sue Blaine and Sapa, Business Day, Johannesburg, 6 October 2010*TEACHER salaries had increased 44% since 2006, and this year's salary negotiations were "very tough" and still not over, said South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) president Thobile Ntola has told delegates at the union's national congress on the East Rand.
Sadtu is still refusing to sign government's final wage and benefits offer --- a 7,5% pay hike, an R800 a month housing allowance and other benefits --- after strikers returned to work on September 13.
Ntola said union leaders were still determined not to sign the offer because it was a "disgrace" that teachers had to live in "RDP" houses, and told unionists deciding to suspend the strike was not a decision to sell out.
"There are turbulent times ahead ... (negotiating good) salaries is also for the liberation of South African society," he said.
The positions of Sadtu president, deputy president, general secretary, deputy general secretary and treasurer will become vacant when the three-day elective congress starts.
General secretary Mugwena Maluleke, who said 1200 delegates are expected to attend, declined to say whether he would be available for re-election .
Sadtu's clout was integral to the effectiveness of Cosatu's recent three-week public sector strike, which drew loud criticism from a range of South Africans, from government ministers to the man in the street.
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