Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Teachers demand US$600, threaten strike

Teachers demand US$600, threaten strike
by
07/01/2010 00:00:00

TEACHERS have threatened not to turn up for work when schools open on Tuesday unless government agrees to raise their salaries to a monthly minimum of US$600.

Organisations representing the country’s 90 000 teachers say their members have run out of patience with the inclusive administration over its failure to improve their conditions of service.

However, the US$600 minimum salary demand is clearly beyond the government’s means as it translates to about US$55 million; half the country’s monthly tax income.

Takavafira Zhou, president of the more militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said teachers would not turn-up for work unless they received clarity from the government over their salaries.

"We have given the inclusive government enough time and ... it’s high time they give us salaries above the poverty datum line meaning (nothing) less than US$600.

"Right now we don’t know what we are getting and if we get the same $150, what will happen next? We have to warn them now," Mr Zhou told The Herald.

Tendai Chikoore, President of the rival Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union said her organisation would seek a meeting with the government next week over the issue.

"If teachers strike, their move would be justified because we have given them (government) enough time to sort out everything.

"Since the budget was announced, we expected to know what we will be earning and if the issue of being graded has been addressed, but up to now they have been quiet,” Chikoore said.

Education Minister, David Coltart referred questions to his counterpart at Finance, Tendai Biti who could not be reached for comment.

"I think the best person to answer their questions would be the finance Minister as he is the one who presented the budget. I do not know what they would be getting as I am not the one who pays them," Minister Coltart said.

Teachers say they are not amused with the Government’s silence over their remuneration since the announcement of the national budget last December.

They also want to know if calls for the implementation of salary structures have been addressed.

Meanwhile, should job-action go ahead, this will be the latest, in a long series of disruptions to the country’s school calendar as teachers continue to fight with government over their conditions of service.

Upon assuming office, the inclusive government put all civil servants on the same salary of US$150 and pleaded with its employees for time to address the country’s economic challenges.

The government said salaries could only be improved once revenues had increased meaningfully.

Labels: STRIKE, TEACHERS

posted by MrK @ 4:15 PM