By Paul Nyathi|Following their request to postpone the crunch bargaining meeting with teachers last week, representative of government failed to turn up for the make or break meeting set for Thursday citing lack of a quorum on their team.

Representatives of the teachers under the Zimbabwe Teachers Union reported in a statement to its members that their employer has requested for a further extension of the engagement to a yet to be agreed date.

“The NJNC meeting did not take place today 16 May 2018 as the Government postponed the meeting citing their failure to constitute a quorum,” read the ZIMTA statement.

According to the statement the Apex Council a collective representation of Civil Servants proceeded to make its own resolutions that will be pushed to the negotiations.

“The Apex Council resolved that:

1. Government should pay cash in lieu as a once off payment rather than on staggering basis.(Government proved that it is capable as evidenced by what it has done to the Health Sector)

2. In the coming third NJNC meeting, if the PDL salary($720) to the least paid civil servant is not agreed to, a deadlock should be declared.

3. Audience with the State President be sought to resolve civil servants grievances.(A letter to request a meeting with the State President should be forwarded W.I.E)

4. A committee in the Apex Council be set to make thorough research on salary scales for various ministries in government

5. Debunching of salaries be done with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has taken a separate stance demanding to be removed from the Apex Council and stand alone in bargaining for teachers as did the Zimbabwe Nurses Association and the Hospital Doctors Association.

The Apex Council is a collective representative of all civil servants.

PTUZ feels that the Apex Council is not doing enough representation for the teachers.

“Nurses went into negotiations on their own. They argued their case and they did not go in and led by farmers or by teachers. Their Sector Specific needs were not mixed up,” said the PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe in a circular to its members.

“We need A SECTOR SPECIFIC NEGOTIATING CHAMBER not this NOAH’S ARK carrying all animals. We will take time to engage members of all unions to realise the benefits of supporting Federation of Zimbabwe Educators’ Unions (FOZEU).”