Unions representing teachers strongly disagree on the strategy and tactics to force the government to give in to their salary demands when schools open for the 2024 second term on Tuesday, 07 May.
This has resulted in the unions splitting into two different camps, the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (FOZEU), and the Federation of Educators Union of Zimbabwe (FEUZ), reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200026531/teachers-divided-over-job-action">The Standard</a>.
The FOZEU members are the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), the Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) Zimbabwe Visually Impaired Teachers Union and the Professional Educators Union of Zimbabwe.
FEUZ is made up of Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Zimbabwe Democratic Teachers Union (ZDTU), Zimbabwe National Educators Union (ZiNEU), Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZINATU), Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union (ZIRUTU) and the Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (ZINUSH).
The FOZEU has declared a strike when schools open tomorrow while FEUZ has stated that their members will report for duty to give room for dialogue.
FOZEU is demanding a minimum salary of US$1 260 for its members while FEUZ is pushing for US$840.
PTUZ withdrew from FOZEU following its decision not to negotiate for better salaries and working conditions under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC).
FOZEU chairperson, who is also Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president, Obert Masaraure said:
<blockquote>
We are not part of the NJNC because its establishment is unconstitutional. Our position at FOZEU is that we do not participate in the NJNC because it is a fraud.
</blockquote>
In a statement on Friday, FOZEU said it had decided during Labour Day celebrations on 01 May to call for its members to down tools when the Second Term commences.
But FEUZ leader Akuneni Maphosa, who is also president of the ZIMTA, said its members will report for duty tomorrow. Said Maphosa:
<blockquote>
As FEUZ we have no position of a strike at the moment. Our position is that unions must carry out their consultations.
We are still following the trajectory of negotiation where we talk with the government and push for better salaries.
We want US$840 as a basic salary. We believe in consultations as the way to go at the moment.
</blockquote>
PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe urged teachers’ unions to come together and approach the government as a united front.
In March this year, the Government gave teachers a paltry US$20 pay increase and other incentives, but the teachers swiftly rejected that offer as insignificant.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Teacher Unions Divided Over Strike, Minimum Wage

The Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions (FOZEU), a collective of radical teachers’ unions, has issued a call to action for all teachers in Zimbabwe. 
Beginning on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, they are urging teachers to participate in a 3-day job strike in response to the government’s recent US$20 wage increase, which they consider a mere “mockery”.
FOZEU said no teacher should report for duty from March 20 to March 22, 2024, and that the mass action will continue until the government pays a living wage. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions, FOZEU, a collective of radical teachers’ unions is calling on all teachers in Zimbabwe to embark on a 3 day Job action beginning Wednesday 20 March 2024.
Following the conclusion of consulting teachers on a fight-back strategy in the face of the mockery of a USD20 increment, we update our constituency as follows;
A total of 56 700 teachers were consulted both offline and online. 55 220 of the consulted teachers asked FOZEU to call for a Job action before Schools close and mobilise for an indefinite national trike when Schools open for 2nd term.
Some of the grievances which came from the teachers during consultations included the incapacity to pay examination fees for children because of inadequate salaries which is ironic for teachers who work to prepare children for examinations whilst their own children fail to sit for the same examinations.
The Federation hereby declares that;
1. No teacher should report for duty from Wednesday 20 March 2024 to Friday 22 March 2024
2. The mass action is to be escalated as the second term opens until the employer pays a living wage.
3. FOZEU leaders to engage other progressive unions in the Civil Service seeking collaborations in the fight for a living wage.
4. Deadlines for registration for sitting for Public Examinations be extended until the Salary Crisis is resolved.
FOZEU stands ready to provide legal assistance to all teachers who may face victimisation during the coming job action.
The Federation calls upon teachers to mobilise each other at classroom level to make this job action a success.
The employer has to be forced to pay a living wage of USD1 260, teachers are encouraged to seize this opportunity to apply pressure on the employer by completely withdrawing labour.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the right to Strike and picket.
</blockquote>
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Zimbabwean Teachers To Embark On 3-Day Job Action To Demand Fair Wages

Teachers’ unions have said they’re ready to listen to a realistic salary offer by the government. A statement seen by Pindula News states that teachers are also planning to down tools if the government does not table any offer by the end of September 2022. Reads the statement dated 25 September 2022:
<blockquote>
Dear Members
This note serves to inform you, as well as the Public Service Commission, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, that members of FOZEU (ARTUZ, EUZ, PTUZ and PEUZ) will not be able to report for work from 26 September. 
The latest offer by government to civil servants, a paltry $25 for the USD component only, is not enough to offset the herculian economic challenges facing our members. It is a known fact that our members were incapacitated before receiving their salaries, and remain incapacitated even after receiving the inconsequential salaries and the promised increment. 
We are calling on government to treat our situation with urgency and call for a realistic, all-inclusive meeting before the end of this coming week. We are also ready to listen to a realistic offer for our pauperized members.
If government has not tabled a realistic offer by the end of this month, we will take more robust action.
Yours faithfully
ARTUZ – Robson Chere +263 775643192 
EUZ – Tapedza Zhou +263 773612250
PEUZ – Wilson Makanyaire +263 773013406 
PTUZ – Raymond Majongwe +263 782702836
</blockquote>
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