via Teachers delay possible salary strike until Wednesday | SW Radio Africa by Nomalanga Moyo January 13, 2014
Teachers will hold off on any industrial action against their employer until after Wednesday’s salary negotiations.
Schools open countrywide Tuesday and some teachers’ unions had indicated that members will go on strike on the same day to force government to honour its pledge to improve public sector wages and working conditions.
Last week Labour Minister Nicholas Goche told State media that representatives from government and civil servants will meet this Wednesday when government is expected make an offer.
“We have our position as Government and we will first reveal that position, what we have to offer and negotiate from there,” Goche said.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the 15,000-strong Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said members had agreed to wait for Wednesday before they can decide on the next course of action.
“Wednesday is a couple of days away and if the government thinks the day will not arrive, it will and so we resolved to wait until then,” Zhou said.
“Teachers who visited our offices countrywide expressed displeasure that the government is negotiating in bad faith. The announcement that salaries will be backdated to January pre-empts Wednesday’s negotiations,” Zhou added.
The outspoken union leader said teachers were “dismayed” that while civil servants submitted their demands in October last year, government is still to make its own position known, despite negotiations ending Wednesday.
“We are also unhappy with the lack of a timeframe for these negotiations because this gives the government leeway to delay and be evasive without tying themselves to concrete negotiations.”
“Despite all this, we hope Wednesday will see the government making a concrete offer which reflects teachers’ and civil servants responsibilities, qualifications and experience,” Zhou added.
An unsatisfactory outcome from Wednesday’s meeting will be followed by urgent meetings throughout the country to map the way forward, according to Zhou.
“We are trying to avoid declaring a strike before Wednesday’s meeting because this could be seen as negotiating in bad faith,” Zhou said.
In another interview, PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe told the Daily News newspaper that in the event that civil servants stage protests. this must not be misunderstood as a political move.
“I want to assure you that we respect the government of the day that was voted in by the people and they must also recognise that workers are suffering and they must urgently address that.”
“If countries like Lesotho and Swaziland that are producing nothing are affording to pay their teachers up to $1, 000, why can’t Zimbabwe pay salaries of $540,” Majongwe told the newspaper on Sunday.
COMMENTS
What is produced in Zimbabwe Mr Majongwe? I hope you won’t say “Diamonds”
What about incentives?have they been truly stopped this year?akomana tokuvara
Zimbabwes politicians just think about their pockets first.They do not think about nation builders.Goche think about rebuilding Zimbabwe now.Give the teachers,nurses Doctors and all civil servants what they deserve or else OUR beloved nation will be on a free fall again.Please respect Zimbabwe by giving civil servants decent salaries.
“If countries like Lesotho and Swaziland that are producing nothing are affording to pay their teachers up to $1, 000, why can’t Zimbabwe pay salaries of $540,” Majongwe told the newspaper on Sunday.
Majongwe after 34 years you ask this stupid question.These people don’t take their governments bullsh1t like you zimbos seem to love to do and your government knows it .Talk and talk and talk. My guess from past experience is that the teachers will probably get 5% and a promise of a revised increase in 3 maybe 4 maybe 5 maybe 7 months from now and you will have to go and renegotiate again and again and talk and talk and talk.Do zimbabweans not learn anything from the past???????.
If they give you 1% you deserve what you get.
teachers be patient. No need for confrontation with the gvt. The zanu pf gvt is serious about addressing your grievances. Over the years they were being disturbed by Biti and company. Zanu pf , we are a people ‘s gvt.
OVER THE YEARS??? 30 ODD YEARS??? SERIOUSLY?? ONE HOPES YOU ARE JOKING
THIS MANTRA OF BLAMING EVERYBODY LEFT RIGHT AND CENTER HAS RUBBED OFF FROM THE TOP TO THE DIMWITS AT THE BOTTOM?
WHEN WILL YOU SEE THE LOG IN YOUR EYE?
SHEEP BAAAAAAAAAA!!! BLEETING LIKE THE LEADERS
What a confused teachers’ unions with poor negotiators with very limited for sights.Do you really think the government cares about your empty threats which you reluctantly express in the media.Mr Zhou you do not understand the mentality of the people you are negotiating with.It is also stupid to base your negotiations on neighbouring countries which have different labour laws and standard of living.I suggest you stick to our datum poverty figures to pressurise your employer.Mr Zhou you talk too much to be a good workers representative so you compromise yourself badly.
Cde Mabhunu , teahers were suffering long before Biti comes into picture.Its typical of Zanu pf its always somebody’s fault.
ps-foresights not for sights
are teachers the only group fighting for an increase?why bunch them with others like the Alexader led group that is always supportive of the employer most of the time. each union or association shud negotiate on its own becoz their issues are different.take Colaz and Zimta for example,most of their issues are way different.Zimta basically wants salary increament whilst Colaz wants members salalries pegged at around 70% of University lecturers like in previous years.This is just one issue,so how then are they able to negotiate at the same table with the same employer.
Strange how the police force and military just got a huge increase without even demanding anything.
In Zimbabwe the only valuable civil servants are soldiers, police & the dreaded cio.
Futhi lina ma civil servants uBiti wathi elitshela ukuthi akula mali lathi uyahlanya