Striking Teachers will not get salaries

15 September 2009
The Zimbabwe Telegraph
By Gertrude Gumede

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Teachers will not get their October salaries if they continue with the strike, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, won Tuesday.

Coltart said the teachers would get this month’s salaries but risked being scratched from next month’s payroll if they do no call off the job action.

Teachers have been on strike since schools opened on 2 September for the third term demanding a salary increase and changes in working conditions.

“I am sure they (teachers) will be given this month’s salary but if the strike continues, the Public Service Commission will likely halt the payment. Obviously, the PSC can’t agree to pay workers who are not reporting for duty,” said Coltart.

He urged the teachers to go back to work immediately to allow smooth negotiations to proceed between the Government and teachers’ unions.

Coltart said the teachers should report for duty and assist Ordinary and Advanced Level pupils who will be sitting for examinations next month.

“Children are suffering as a result of the strike. The strike has catastrophic effects on the pupils who are sitting for the final examinations. I’m deeply concerned about the effects of the strike on the country’s education system. In fact teachers have an obligation to go to the classroom and work,” he said.

Coltart expressed sympathy with the teachers’ situation but emphasised that there was nothing the Government could do to improve teachers’ salaries because the Treasury had no money.

He said efforts to source funding from the international donor community had not yielded positive results.

“Our hands are tied because we have no money but at the same time the children are suffering. However, as a way forward we will continue negotiating with the teachers,” said Coltart.

“No one should think that the Government hid some money somewhere, we should be transparent and tell each other that there is no money. Finance Minister (Tendai) Biti and I have been working hard to get the money but donors are not forthcoming.”

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) national executive will meet before the end of the week to discuss whether to call off the on-going strike.