Teachers affiliated with the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) have resolved to report for duty three days per week, citing deteriorating working conditions and unsustainable salaries.
The decision, reached through a weekend vote among union members, marks a new phase in ARTUZ’s ongoing campaign for fair remuneration and improved service conditions.
In an interview with NewsDay, ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure confirmed the move, describing it as a form of “creative resistance” to draw attention to the plight of educators. Said Masaraure:
Over the weekend, the union conducted a vote on how many days we should report for duty, given that the government has failed to resolve the salary crisis.
The outcome was as follows: five days= 1,5%, four days= 0%, three days= 50,7%, two days= 38,6% and one day = 9%.The outcome was adopted. The members of ARTUZ will now report for duty three days per week.
Masaraure explained that the reduced schedule is a form of committed service, not a gesture to appease the employer.
The union says government resistance to meaningful wage reviews has left teachers with no option but to limit workdays as an act of self-preservation and solidarity.
Teachers argue that the profession comprises the largest group of civil servants and that the current salary scale makes full-time teaching unsustainable.
School administrators and educators reportedly support the three-day format, viewing it as a strong national commitment under strained circumstances.
The union has urged government to address salary concerns urgently, warning that further inaction could prompt more assertive measures.
ARTUZ has consistently demanded a minimum monthly salary of US$1,260, arguing that the current average of US$300 is far below the poverty line and fails to cover basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare.
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