The Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) says the Apex Council meeting was today crushed by CIO infiltrators.
Below was RTUZ’s statement on what it called “APEX Madness”
The Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) is saddened by the outcome of the Apex Council meeting which collapsed amid petty jostling for posts and shameless political jockeying by the various yellow unions in the Public Service, the majority of whose leadership has sold their political souls for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver to the employer via the dreaded CIO.
RTUZ did not attend today’s meeting as its leadership was accessing treatment after being bashed on the front line of fighting for teachers and the generality of civil servants, however the union is well informed of what transpired in the botched meeting.
The much hyped meeting which has turned out to be just a dump squib was expected to discuss the collective position of government workers on the crisis facing the civil service which is punctuated by lack of bonuses, massive opaque deductions from pay checks, late payment of salaries and general lethargy of the government towards delivering its mandate.
While the RTUZ never expected anything from this meeting where a few over fed union fat cats gathered to defend their supper what angers the union is the shameless behaviour by one Richard Gundane, from ZIMTA, who is attempting to impose himself as life chairperson of the Apex council. What ridiculous thinking!
While Gundane’s actions are pathetic, those of other unionists present were also far from encouraging as they failed to put Gundane and his madness in their proper place and carry on with the business of the day. To cry like little babies will not help the workers cause, radical action is needed to emancipate the workers and rescue them from the total collapse which the government is precipitating and this calls for serious and revolutionary leadership.
However, the happenings at today’s Apex Council meeting have vindicated RTUZ which yesterday, January 4, took to the streets and sent a clear message that as teachers and government workers we are unhappy with their continued irresponsibility and heartlessness of the current regime. The majority of Unions especially those in the teaching fraternity distanced themselves from the action and even went so much as to condemn the union for taking to the streets.
The basis of the flimsy attack on RTUZ was the vexatious and misplaced argument that today’s Apex Council meeting would be the panacea to the challenges raised by workers. Truth have since come to pass and the confusion, chaos, pettiness and hubris in the Apex Council has been laid bare for all to see.
Now that all can see how cowardly elements who have hijacked unionism can in broad day light betray workers, it remains without question that RTUZ’s proposals of restoration of workers rights via payment of full salaries on time, immediate disbursement of bonuses to all civil servants and strike action in the event of failure is indeed the only practical solution to the current crisis.
The Union will however attend tomorrow’s NJNC meeting and state its unequivocal position. Those yellow unions and unruly elements masquerading as unionists must be warned that if they repeat their dastardly actions which characterized today’s meeting the Union will not tire to name and shame them.
Released by;
Robson Chere
RTUZ Secretary General