News / Education
Zimbabwe teachers demand a 150 percent salary hike
22 Jun 2011 at 19:06hrs | Views
Zimbabwean teachers went on strike Wednesday demanding a 150 percent pay rise.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe which called the strike, said about 25,000 of its members downed their chalks.
Teachers earn about $200 a month and want a raise to $500 which is the monthly amount required by an average family of five, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe. They also want a review of their housing and transport allowance.
The country's public-sector workers, particularly teachers, nurses and doctors, have been striking on and off for better salaries and working conditions since 2008.
Zhou said about half the union's urban members had heeded the strike call and about 75 percent in rural areas, adding teachers in one area northeast of Harare were threatened with violence by MDC-T supporters if they participated.
There was no immediate response from the ministry of education.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe which called the strike, said about 25,000 of its members downed their chalks.
Teachers earn about $200 a month and want a raise to $500 which is the monthly amount required by an average family of five, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe. They also want a review of their housing and transport allowance.
Zhou said about half the union's urban members had heeded the strike call and about 75 percent in rural areas, adding teachers in one area northeast of Harare were threatened with violence by MDC-T supporters if they participated.
There was no immediate response from the ministry of education.
Source - Byo24News
