Maravi

Kasama teachers resolve to strike

Kasama teachers resolve to strike
By Ackson Phiri in Kasama
Sun 27 June 2010, 03:00 CAT

TEACHERS in Kasama have resolved to go on strike if they are not paid their June salaries by the end of the month.

The teachers passed the resolution during a meeting called by their union leaders from Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) and the Zambian National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) held at Kasama Boys High School recreation hall on Friday.

The teachers said it would be better for them to stay away from classes if their salaries were delayed again this month.

They charged that they had an obligation to fend for their families and subjecting them to untold misery by delayed salaries would not be entertained anymore.

The teachers also resolved to hold peaceful demonstrations in future at the office of the permanent secretary in the event that their salaries were not forthcoming.

They have since asked the government to normalise irregularities on their payslips in order to get their dues on time.

The teachers urged the government to speed up the payment of outstanding claims such as rural and remote hardship allowances to eligible teachers in order to motivate them to work extra hard.

They further appealed to their national union leaders to consult teacher members before commencing negotiations with the government for salary increment and improved conditions of service.

They castigated union leaders for bargaining without their input during the last salary negotiations with government, adding that it was pointless for their district union leaders to call for a meeting to report about past negotiations.

And speaking at the same function, SESTUZ Kasama district chairman Maxwell Chiwele appealed to teachers to desist from any form of misconduct saying the teachers’ unions would not defend indisciplined members.

Chiwele said conditions of service and the code of conduct were very clear on the responsibility and functions of public service workers and as such teachers should not misbehave while on duty.

He further disclosed that the three teachers’ unions were currently negotiating among themselves with a view to merging in order to enhance their bargaining power during negotiations with the government for improved conditions of service.

Labels: KASAMA, SALARIES, STRIKE, TEACHERS

posted by MrK @ 1:20 PM