The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has responded with conditions to the government measures on salaries and conditions of service that were released by the Public Service Commission yesterday.
In a statement, ARTUZ said the agreement as published by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on 28 February is “a signal of an employer who is in complete denial of the realities teachers and other civil servants are surviving under.”
“The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has noted the manufactured agreement between the Government of Zimbabwe who is our employer and the APEX council that purports to represent workers unions, the agreement as published by PSC on 28 February is a signal of an employer who is in complete denial of the lived realities teachers and other civil servants are surviving under.
“The paltry twenty percent increment that have been pushing for a reflection of the nature of employing authority which has been consistent with spitting in the face of their workers, teachers have in their multitude rejected such an insulting offer and as much the government has resorted to attempt to sweeten the offer with unrealistic conditions of service especially on the rebate of duty on motor vehicles is a high sounding nothing as it is virtually impossible for teachers to be able to afford to buy cars on such a salary that is pitiful,” ARTUZ said.
The Union drafted conditions that the teachers can work with, these included work for 2 days per week and the restoration of US$540 salary while alerting street protest of #SaveOurEducationZw.
“The Union has gone to great lengths to attempt to make logic of the pronouncement but the membership has rejected such offers, however through a process of intense consultation of the Union has come up with a number of action points.
“With reference to the offered salary increment teachers have resolved to work for 2 days per week, Mondays and Tuesdays, which is reflective on the amount offered.
“The Union demands restoration of the USD$540 salary as the real starting point of restoring worker dignity. A wave of street protests is being organised to #SaveOurEducationZw,” ARTUZ said.
ARTURZ claims it stands ready to stand with true labour justice and the rights of all workers in turmoil and tenacity.