Teachers and State Universities’ employees to embark on a national strike
The education sector is set to suffer a heavy setback after teachers and University employees gave a notice yesterday. The notice reads that they will embark on a nationwide industrial strike starting on Monday for better working conditions. This happened earlier before the government stated that teachers will be vaccinated immediately.
On the 5th of March the teachers issued another statement which demanded their full pay and to be vaccinated before schools opened. The government just told the teachers not to worry as it was working on all those issues. Now it seems the conditions have not been met.
State university employees also gave a 14 day notice to the Public Service ministry announcing their intention to embark on a strike in protest over low wages. The notice also coincides with the 250% fees hike approval by the government.
Zimbabwe Universities and Allied Workers Union (ZUAWU) and the Zimbabwe State Universities Union of Academics (ZISUUA) put forward the 14 day notice of intention to embark on a strike. The employees demand that the employer makes urgent steps to attain the regional level salary scales as per the agreements of 2010.
Teachers and State Universities’ employees to embark on a national strike
Another Union the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) released a statement yesterday inviting citizens to join them on the streets on March 22 in nationwide protests dubbed #SaveOurEducationZw. The rural teachers threaten that the protests will continue until their grievances are addressed.
“The number of teenage pregnancies is rising, with a recent report revealing that 5000 teenagers were impregnated in a month. This revelation reminds us that the longer learners stay at home, the more difficult it is for them to return to schools. It is therefore imperative for us to force the government to urgently resolve the education crisis.”
“Government should deal with the issue of teacher preparedness to teach. Teachers are currently incapacitated because of underpayment. The unilateral variation of teacher contracts by the government in 2018 led to a systematic wage theft, which left teachers wallowing in poverty,” reads the ARTUZ notice.
The Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said he saw the notice. So he urges teachers to continue reporting for duty on time and with commitment as government seeks to address their grievances.