Teachers Reject Reported 25 Per Cent Salary Increment
Various teachers’ unions have rejected a reported 75 per cent salary increment offered by the government, describing it as a “pittance”.
Teachers are instead, demanding that their salaries be restored to the pre-October 2018 levels when they earned between US$520 and US$550 (now they are earning the equivalent of slightly above US$100).
Reports indicate that Cabinet last week approved a 75% pay increment offer for civil servants, which will be paid in a staggered format.
25% is with effect from this month, followed by the remainder, 50%, to be paid in June.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou told NewsDay that teachers will not report for duty despite the increment. He said:
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It’s madness of the worst order. The same government gave police, soldiers, and Central Intelligence Organisation officers more than 100% salary increases with effect from February 2021.
Now they want to give the rest of the civil service 25% with effect from April, and the other 50% from June.
This double standard is unacceptable. Worse still, it is not a product of social dialogue, but unilateralism.
What teachers want is the restoration of the purchasing power parity of US$520 to US$550 or its equivalent.
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZNTU) chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo also dismissed the offer, saying it is a mockery to the teaching profession.
Nyawo said there was no reason for their union members not to demonstrate hence they will join any other union that wants to demonstrate.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said they “reject the 75% increment, both the process and the amount”.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said their employer has not yet officially communicated the 75% salary increment and they want the restoration of teachers’ salaries to match the pre-October 2018 US$550.
