Rival teachers unions unite for strike action

By Lance Guma
25 January 2007

Two of the country’s competing unions, the Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) have put aside their differences and united in telling government their members are going on strike next week. Although some reports say the strike will begin on Monday, Raymond Majongwe the PTUZ Secretary General told Newsreel they are keeping a tight lid on the actual date for security reasons. Meetings will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday to finalise plans for the industrial action and only after that will they issue a statement.

Under new salaries offered by the Public Service Commission, the lowest paid teacher is earning Z$84 000 while those up the ladder get Z$157 000. With the poverty datum line now pegged at Z$344 000, and rising, the unions argue the offer remains inadequate and should be reviewed. They have put in salary demands of at least Z$650 000 a month made up of a Z$150 000 housing allowance, Z$100 000 transport allowance and a
Z$400 000 basic salary. The PTUZ have also asked government to exempt at least one teacher’s child from paying school fees just like war veterans who enjoy this benefit.

Majongwe says no negotiations are taking place at the moment and that it is incorrect to assume the Public Service Commission engages in any form of collective bargaining with civil servants at any level. ‘It’s the government that determines what salaries to pay and they are used to just coming up with figures and imposing them.’ He expressed disappointment at the way authorities are responding to ongoing nationwide strikes by doctors and nurses. He says their response shows they are either broke or don’t care.