Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Teachers threaten to strike

COMMENT - Like the neoliberals they are, the MDC is underfunding any of the growth factors in the economy. Whether it is defunding agriculture (food security), the armed forces (national security), or the teachers (education) and doctors/nurses (healthcare). They are destroying demand in the economy, so the country's assets end up even cheaper to buy for the likes of Anglo-American De Beers.

Teachers threaten to strike
04/01/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

TEACHERS unions say government cannot continue to plead poverty after recently paying MPs US$15 000 each and warned that schools may not re-open next week unless a deal is reached over their own wage demands.

The unions accuse the government of dragging its feet over negotiations for this year’s salary increments and expressed outrage over reports treasury recently paid up to US$2 million in allowances owed to MPs.

Government employees want their salaries adjusted in line with the country’s poverty datum line which would see the least paid civil servant earning about US$538 up from US$253.

But they have yet to get a response from their employer since the submitted their proposals last month.

“It is not a surprise that there might be no movement since December 16,” Tendai Chikowore, who heads the umbrella body for the unions, said.

“We are giving them until this Friday and after that the workers will decide on what action to take," she said.

Government negotiator, Prince Mupazviriho said the coalition administration was looking into the proposals.
"Something is being done in terms of salary negotiations," Mupazviriho told The Herald.

"What is important is not the date of the meeting but what we are discussing. We are still consulting and once we finalise our consultations a date would be set."
Teachers have however warned that they will not be returning to work when schools re-open next week unless a deal is reached.

"They (Government) should take heed of the warning as schools are only a few weeks from opening. Government should not underestimate the anger that is latent in the civil service," Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive, Sifiso Ndlovu said.

"Their insincerity and insensitivity just shows that all the workshops we have been holding are not genuine."
Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe chief executive Manuel Nyawo added: "It's one promise after the other.

“Someone affords to pay US$15 000 to 211 people but those who matter in a Government are useless to him and they should continue wallowing in poverty," he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe added said the coalition government had failed to address the plight of civil servants.

"Our situation has worsened since the inception of the Inclusive Government. We are mere victims of political fighting between MDC-T and Zanu-PF,” he said.

"But if MPs united and won their battle, nothing is going to stop us from doing so. Our grievances are always last minute issues and this time we will fight to the end."

Labels: MDC, NEOLIBERALISM, TEACHERS

posted by MrK @ 5:41 PM