By Own Correspondent- Teachers Unions here have blasted government over the recently announced move to deduct salaries from the leave days of teachers who took part in a week-long strike in January.

The Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) described the move as retrogressive and an attack on the educators.

PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe said:

“Once again the government is bracing to launch an attack on teachers. The Apex Council gave a strike notice. We’re surprised the government is saying notice was not given.

Punishing these suffering teachers will negatively affect service delivery. The PTUZ position on this is very clear. The government is doing a public kangaroo hearing.

There’s what’s called due process. Instead of writing these statements, they should be discussing serious issues with unions. This they will never win. Teachers are not soldiers.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Public Service Commission said:

The PSC has noted isolated cases of abscondment by about 10,200 teachers for durations ranging from one to four days between 5 and 8 February 2019. The PSC would like to advise all those who were absent from work without authority that deductions from their leave days using the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ will be effected.