MASVINGO — Restive teachers have given the government a 10-day ultimatum to meet their salary demands or face a massive strike ahead of schools’ opening tomorrow.
Report by Tatenda Chitagu
The teachers are also demanding a share of proceeds from the sale of diamonds extracted from the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Manicaland.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers’ Union in Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said his union would go back to the trenches if their January payslips did not reflect a salary increase.
The PTUZ position contradicts the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union, which last week issued a statement dispelling any strike threat, arguing it was still committed to having further negotiations with the government.
Briefing journalists yesterday, Zhou said PTUZ members had resolved to down tools once they assessed the worthiness of the cost-of-living adjustments announced in the National Budget by Finance minister Tendai Biti last year.
“We are giving the government 10 days to review our salaries upwards or face a crippling strike that will paralyse the education system,” Zhou said.
“This is the only option that we will be left with if all else fails. Last year — 2012 — government was reluctant to deal with salaries and only nominally increased transport and housing allowances.”
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He accused government of insincerity during salary bargaining processes.
“Government should stop hiding behind a finger saying there is no money to pay teachers when there is diamond money. Where is that money going to? We should also benefit from the sale of diamonds as they are a national resource,” Zhou said.
The PTUZ, which is often confrontational and normally associated with opposition politics, claims to be the largest teachers’ representative body by subscription. Zimbabwe has about four teachers’ unions with some allegedly linked to Zanu PF.
The lowest paid teacher earns around $280, but PTUZ wants that increased to $500 which is above the poverty datum line.
According to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, the consumer basket for a family of five — is pegged at $572.
In 2008, public education virtually collapsed after teachers withdrew their labour citing untenable working conditions.
