UNZALARU asks Dora to rebuild her tattered image

UNZALARU asks Dora to rebuild her tattered image
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, July 03, 2009 3:17:59 PM

UNIVERSITY of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) general secretary Dr Fenson Mwape yesterday asked education minister Dora Siliya to rebuild her tattered image by showing leadership over the lecturers’ go-slow.

Commenting on the go-slow by lecturers, Dr Mwape said it would be extremely important for the newly-appointed education minister to take the first step in addressing the demands by lecturers and not allow the situation to deteriorate further.

"I do understand what she's going through. There are many questions surrounding her appointment. Many are not worried at Dora as a person but her appointment. She has no choice, she has to rebuild her image which has been tattered and this [addressing the current go-slow by lecturers] is the best way to do that," Dr Mwape said. "She should clear the negative perception by showing leadership over UNZA lecturers' go-slow."

Dr Mwape also joined calls for members of parliament to suspend their mid-term gratuity and channel those funds towards addressing the workers' demands, in a country that had been blighted by industrial unrest.

He said it would be immoral for members of parliament to receive their gratuity when the government had given an excuse of the global economic crunch over the workers' demands.

"The three to five per cent increment offered to us cannot be accepted. If money can be sourced by members of parliament demonstrating their leadership, that will be welcome. If there are serious concerns, it would be immoral if members of parliament are paid their midterm gratuity," said Dr Mwape. "It is important that they suspend that and meet the immediate needs. They can suspend those until the end of their term. Others get their gratuity at the end of the term and not midterm."

Unionised lecturers at UNZA on Monday resolved to start their go-slow with immediate effect until their demands are met.

Dr Mwape said the lecturers had rejected the three or five per cent salary increment given to them earlier and demanded that they be awarded a minimum of whatever percentage would be awarded to public service workers.

"Meaningful negotiations for new salaries and conditions of service should be concluded, the collective agreement implemented immediately and all outstanding contractual obligations should be paid immediately," Dr Mwape said.

Dr Mwape said the members observed that the 2008/2009 collective agreement expired on March 31, 2009 and negotiations for the new agreement could not continue because of serious impediments created by both UNZA management and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning circular of 2009 which restricted grant-aided institutions such as UNZA to adjust their 2009 salaries by up to a maximum of five per cent which has resulted in the institution offering only three per cent.