By Talent Gondo
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has confirmed that its members will embark on a strike when schools open for the second term on the 8th of May 2018, revealing that teachers will only return to work when government concedes to their demands.
The teachers demands include an increase in their salary, lifting of the suspension for vacation leave and increases in teachers’ allowances as agreed in 2013.
Last month, teachers unions handed over a petition to government making known their demands and threatening to strike when schools open if their demands are not fulfilled.
The teachers’ strike comes after nurses embarked on a crippling industrial action which resulted in over 5 000 nurses becoming jobless after they were fired by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
The full statement by Zimta reads:
DECLARATION OF COLLECTIVE JOB ACTION BY THE ZIMTA 37TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT ELEPHANT HILLS RESORT, VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE 27 April 2018
WHEREAS section 65(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Oct of 2013 provides for the rights to fair and We labour practices and standards and to be paid a fair and reasonable wage;
AND WHEREAS section 65(4) of the said Constitution provides for the right to Just, equitable and satisfactory conditions of work:
AND WHEREAS section 65(3) of the same Constitution guarantees the right to collective Job action including the right to strike;
AND WHEREAS the employer has not allowed any salary Increment and upward adjustment of allowances since the Agreement of 2013;
AND WHEREAS the employer has not uplifted the suspension of vacation leave effected in 2016;
NOW THEREFORE the 37th Annual National Conference of the Zimbabwe Teacher, Association do hereby declare that schools will not open for the 2nd Term 2018 and for the avoidance of doubt, our members will be on strike and will withdraw their labour effective the 8th of May 2018 until the issues raised herein above are resolved.
THUS DATED AT VICTORIA FALLS THIS THE 27th OF APRIL 2018