Largest teachers union joins strike

By Lance Guma
19 February 2007

On Monday the Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA), the largest union representing teachers, instructed its members to join a general strike initially called by the more radical but smaller Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ). Jacob Rukweza the Harare province chairperson of the PTUZ told Newsreel that Tendai Chikowore, the ZIMTA president, issued circulars to all schools advising teachers under their union to go on strike with immediate effect. The move follows 2 weeks of negotiations between government and the Civil Service Staff Association Apex Council, which represents all government employees.

Its reported government on Friday made an offer of Z$180 000 per month as a basic pay for teachers. The new figures would have meant the highest paid teacher getting Z$240 000 per month, excluding allowances. The Apex Council however refused to accept the increase saying it fell far below the Z$566 000 poverty datum line. Rukweza says ZIMTA is welcome to join the strike and that as long as the interests of the two unions converged to benefit teachers they were prepared to work together.

Raymond Majongwe the Secretary General of the PTUZ has in the past described negotiations with government as a waste of time. With ZIMTA abandoning talks with government the PTUZ position seems to have been vindicated. Teachers under the PTUZ, doctors, and nurses have all been on strike for several weeks, demanding better pay and working conditions. The civil service union representing over 200 000 workers is considering strike action in the next few days and has already placed adverts in the media, explaining their position. Students grouped under the Zimbabwe National Students Union are also protesting exorbitant tuition fees.