Teachers demand bonus dates in 14 days, threaten strke

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) today, 30 January 2017, notified the employer (the Public Service Commission) on its intention to embark on an industrial action should the government fail to avail bonus dates within the next 14 working days.

The notice for strike by ARTUZ comes on the back of a nationwide go slow which the union mobilised among teachers in rural areas. Last week, on 25 January 2017, the government called for a meeting which became a dumb squib as it failed to bring finality on the bonus issue.

Led by the militant ARTUZ, the bulk of the civil service associations and union unequivocally told the government that they would not accept 3 options they had tabled for bonuses which were an attempt by the government not to pay workers bonuses in cash.

In the notice, the union copies the ministry of public service, labour and social welfare and also the ministry of primary education as critical stakeholders in the education sector. ARTUZ has also informed sister unions on its action and will look forward to collaborate with others in undertaking this job action.

ARTUZ holds that bonus is a legitimate expectation which is due to workers and is important in bolstering their meagre incomes since the government has not been raising the salaries of its workers even in the backdrop of high cost of living.