Concord Times (Freetown)
Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh
7 August 2008
Freetown — Union members are calling on the Sierra Leone Teachers' Union to negotiate with government for improved working conditions.
Poor salaries, low transport allowances and a lack of access to medical care are the major concerns of teachers.
According to Davison A Kuyateh, secretary general of the union, "SLTU is making efforts to meet the demands of teachers in the country. It is in negotiations with government for better conditions for teachers." Many of the 33,000 members of the union are unclear on how the union works to improve the working conditions and overall welfare for teachers and their families.
Each month the union collects Le7,000 from each teacher's pay.
At a teacher's meeting held on the August 3, at the Amadiyyah Muslim Secondary School, union members called for fresh negotiations with government and for changes to the union constitution, including changes to the length of term of office for union leadership.
Teacher Mathew Jabbie said teachers do not consider the union active in representing their constituents, despite the collection of union dues. Teachers do not see the benefits of the money they are paying.
"All we can say is that we need the union to improve on the conditions of all teachers. Teachers (must) have access to buses in the country. That will help every teacher who takes a low amount (of money)," he said.
The union's scribe earlier stated that the organisation exists to negotiate for better services and conditions for workers. The union is a democratic organization with representatives across the country and in each school.
"The union belongs to all teachers in Sierra Leone. That is why we have representatives in every school in the four regional offices in the country. All teachers should express their views through these channels." The union also produces a newsletter to inform teachers of the union's activities.
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