Govt, Striking Teachers In Crunch Talks

Striking Teachers and their employer, the government of Zimbabwe will meet tomorrow to discuss and if possible find a way forward, The Sunday Mail reports.

This was revealed by the Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima who said he  wants to understand their grievances of the striking teachers ahead of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC):

We know that they (teachers and other civil servants) have said what we have given them is not enough,” said Prof Mavima. We are at the negotiating table to discuss their demands.

On Monday (tomorrow), we will meet unions in the public service to discuss the way forward. We want to find a common ground with them. We are appealing to them (teachers) to go back to work while we negotiate with the unions. I am meeting them ahead of the National Joint Negotiating Council.

Teachers and other civil servants last week received a 40% cost of living adjustment after they cited their incapacitation. Teachers are demanding that the government matches the October 2018 salaries of between US $500 and $530.

The civil servants’ negotiations with the government collapsed last month as they could not reach an agreement and accusations of the government negotiating in bad faith flew around.

More: The Sunday Mail