The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has said it is ready to engage the government in genuine dialogue to solve the current wage deadlock.
In a statement on Wednesday, ARTUZ said a hardline approach against educators would not yield a win-win situation, but would prolong the crisis and remove any room for dialogue.
Teachers embarked on industrial action when schools reopened on 7 February demanding the pre-October 2018 salary of USD540.
In response, the government then suspended 1 500 teachers and 50 school heads for three months without pay. ARTUZ says the impasse will only make matters worse. Said the union:
The situation in education is deteriorating at an alarming rate and it is the innocent learner who is most affected. Educators are victimized, threatened, arbitrarily arrested, suspended, and expelled unilaterally.
The education crisis cannot be resolved through threats, suspensions, and expulsions, but by genuine dialogue premised on the restoration of the pre-October US$540 salary.
The educators have approached the courts for redress.
Artuz accused the government of using the divide and rule tactic to continue underpaying workers.
The government last month offered to increase all civil servants’ salaries by 20% and pay each employee an additional US$100 per month.
However, unions have rejected the offer and insisted on pre-October 2018 salary of US$540.
-NewZimbabwe
In other news – Skeem Saam actress Amanda Manku speaks on rumours she is Monada’s third wife
Skeem Saam actress Amanda Manku and King Monada sparked romance rumors last year following videos and pictures of them looking cozy.
At the time the artists were working on a music video together but fans suspected that they were dating. In light of Monada’s polygamous marriage history, fans decided to put one and one together and concluded that Amanda was his third wife. Learn More
The post Teachers: Education crisis can be resolved by genuine dialogue appeared first on Mbare Times.