Teachers awarded 1000 percent salary hike

By Lance Guma
09 January 2008

Government has moved to stave off another crippling strike by awarding teachers a 1000 percent pay rise, with immediate effect. With schools set to open in a few days a strike by teachers looked likely given the country’s galloping inflation. In November last year teachers served notice they would strike if their Z$15 million per month salaries were not reviewed. Under the new pay structure a junior teacher will earn a gross salary of Z$260 million. This is broken down into a Z$150 million basic, Z$78 million transport allowance and Z$30 million in housing allowances. Senior teachers will earn in the region of Z$330 million. Additionally, transport and housing allowances will be exempt from tax.

Although the figures and percentage increase look spectacular, one teacher interviewed said the increases would do little to protect them from the harsh reality of a hyperinflationary environment. The two major unions were heading for a showdown with government over their demands for better wages. A series of strikes last year got their salaries raised to Z$15 million but within weeks that figure actually made them far worse off. The new offer of a 1000 percent pay hike is almost exactly what the unions had demanded. The problem is, from the time the demands were made in November up to now, prices of basic commodities and services have gone up massively. And salary increases in an inflationary environment do nothing more than lead to higher inflation.
Teachers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. With a corrupt government intent on plunder and incapable of managing the economy, there is little they can do.

Jacob Rukweza a teacher in the capital, says they have been advised they will receive half of the new salaries this week while the other half will be paid at the end of the month. Most teachers are waiting to see if the promised increases will be paid into their accounts or not. The country has been rocked by several strikes in the past few months. Doctors, nurses, magistrates and other court staff are on strike over poor wages. Although government has tabled offers in the region of 600 percent, these have so far been turned down. Even though some doctors and nurses have gone back to work on humanitarian grounds, their unions insist the majority are on strike and continue to negotiate with government for better deals.

The country is in the midst of an unprecedented economic disaster. The official inflation level is 24,000 percent, but independent analysts say in reality it is over 100,000 percent. The banking system does not have enough cash to service the population, leading to massive queues outside banks. Water and electricity shortages are commonplace. Add political repression to the mix and you have a recipe for the creation of political
and economic refugees. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe estimates that over 25 000 teachers left the country for greener pastures in 2007. The trend looks set to continue.