News / Education
Rural teachers to strike
29 Dec 2015 at 04:07hrs | Views
The Rural Teachers' Union in Zimbabwe (RTUZ) has called for a nationwide strike on January 4 to protest government's failure to pay civil servants' bonuses this year.
Teachers were expected to get paid beginning today, while the rest of civil servants, including nurses, would be paid on January 5.
RTUZ said it "stands ready to fight for our dues, and fight those who deny us our dues".
"We call upon the working class of this country to join hands and confront the anti-workers ruling party and demand bonuses for civil servants. Retrenchments and other anti-workers policies we have witnessed this year were a clear message on the need of solidarity among the working people," RTUZ said.
"On January 4, let's join hands and flood the streets demanding bonuses. We will not return to work until the bonus issue is resolved."
It said claims that government was broke were a joke.
"The claims that government is broke were rubbished by the hosting of a wasteful State banquet by the President recently. The Zanu PF conference, Mphoko's hotel bills and endless foreign trips are all indicators that we have surplus cash in government coffers. We will not entertain claims government is broke.
"A government that lies to its citizens deserves no recognition and must be pushed out of power by concerted peaceful activities of grieved citizens. As a union, we stand ready to fight for our dues and fight against those who deny us our dues. There are no compromises on the issue.
"Zanu PF must deliver on bonuses and salaries. After all, this year alone, they spent $180 million on meaningless globetrotting and $200 million purchasing top-of-the-range vehicles for a few fatcats in high offices. For Zanu PF to now tell us they cannot pay bonuses is to take their circus too far."
Teachers were expected to get paid beginning today, while the rest of civil servants, including nurses, would be paid on January 5.
RTUZ said it "stands ready to fight for our dues, and fight those who deny us our dues".
"We call upon the working class of this country to join hands and confront the anti-workers ruling party and demand bonuses for civil servants. Retrenchments and other anti-workers policies we have witnessed this year were a clear message on the need of solidarity among the working people," RTUZ said.
"On January 4, let's join hands and flood the streets demanding bonuses. We will not return to work until the bonus issue is resolved."
It said claims that government was broke were a joke.
"The claims that government is broke were rubbished by the hosting of a wasteful State banquet by the President recently. The Zanu PF conference, Mphoko's hotel bills and endless foreign trips are all indicators that we have surplus cash in government coffers. We will not entertain claims government is broke.
"A government that lies to its citizens deserves no recognition and must be pushed out of power by concerted peaceful activities of grieved citizens. As a union, we stand ready to fight for our dues and fight against those who deny us our dues. There are no compromises on the issue.
"Zanu PF must deliver on bonuses and salaries. After all, this year alone, they spent $180 million on meaningless globetrotting and $200 million purchasing top-of-the-range vehicles for a few fatcats in high offices. For Zanu PF to now tell us they cannot pay bonuses is to take their circus too far."
Source - Southern Eye
