TRIBUTE TO DON PASQUALLIE AND ALFREDO PASQUALLIE: TEACHERS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

It is with notes of painful sadness that the Executive Committee of ELRC has learnt of the death of Don Pasquallie, a member of the ELRC Executive Committee, who was taken away from us under tragic circumstances. 

Within the process of South Africa emerging from a fragmented society and transforming into a fledgling democracy, bargaining structures within the labour union movement had to be formed to serve the interests of teachers in public education.
Don Pasquallie was one of those leading figures who tirelessly engaged the formation of this process, and in 1991 joined SADTU as a member of the Elsies River branch of the Western Cape, for he firmly believed, and I quote: “development of the human resources in the Western Cape through lifelong learning, skills development, education and training improves the living conditions of workers and all other citizens and offers them access to employment for a better quality of life.”
During the period 1995 – 1997 he was the chief negotiator of SADTU at national level, and in this context helped to build the ELRC.  He played a pivotal role in the development of the ELRC and can be ascribed to reaching a series of milestones that benefited teachers and helped build a unified public education system.  One of his major contributions was the democratisation of schools; in this regard he advocated the concept of school governing bodies.  During his tenure as the national chief negotiator for SADTU, Don would leave no stone unturned to resolve key problems facing public education.  It was during this period he ensured that significant resolutions were passed in the ELRC to lay the basis for transformation in public education in South Africa. 

In the mid nineties he was elected to the position of Provincial Secretary of SADTU in the Western Cape: whereupon he decided to concentrate on his responsibilities as Provincial Secretary.  He, nevertheless, continued his role as chief negotiator of SADTU – Western Cape in the Provincial ELRC and was highly effective in influencing pertinent public education issues in the Western Cape. 

In 2006 he was elected to the national leadership of SADTU as Deputy General Secretary.  As the Deputy General Secretary he once again assumed the mantle of chief negotiator of SADTU at a national level in the ELRC.  Recent successes included the signing of Collective Agreements between the unions and the employer in order to pave the way for the successful implementation of the Further Education and Training Colleges Act.  He played a pivotal role in ensuring transformation in the FETC sector. 

Always walking the extra mile and with determination to achieve collective consensus, he led negotiations with the Department of Education on the proposed Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) for educators.  Don was determined to ensure that teachers got a better deal.  He never forgot for one moment that he himself was a teacher. 

Don was not only a colleague but also a true and personal friend.  Together we were part of the founding members of SADTU, working closely together to set up a structure to serve the interests of educators.  He was my mentor and imparted great and valuable skills to me.  Skills which to this day guides me in my responsibility as General Secretary of the ELRC. He taught me the ability of approaching matters with flexibility and non-partisanship. 

Don will be sadly missed but affectionately remembered.  Don lived a true, passionate and caring life.  He lived not for himself but for the improvement of his fellow human beings. 

The ELRC as an organisation serving teachers also is saddened by the loss of a soldier for quality public education.  In this regard we salute the contribution made by Alfredo Pasquallie to public education in the Western Cape.  His commitment to the people and pupils of the Western Cape enjoyed the benefit of him being a teacher and a Deputy Principal.  His dedication towards the teaching profession is admired and serves as an inspiration to others to help our pupils achieve a better life. 

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the ELRC, I trust that we can celebrate their  life with the quote “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death”.  Leonardo da Vinci

Issued by:

The General Secretary on behalf of the Executive Committee of the ELRC