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Teachers offered $180 000
Caiphas Chimhete, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
February 18, 2007

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=5935&siteID=1

THE government on Friday offered a basic salary of $180 000 to teachers in a last-ditch attempt to stave off a looming strike.

But the disgruntled workers dismissed the increment as a "mockery" to the negotiations they have been holding with their employers for the past two weeks.

Despite the disgruntlement, the Civil Service Staff Association Apex Council, which appeared militant and ready to confront the government last week over poor salaries, yesterday appeared cowed and unsure of its next move.

The Apex council represents all government employees.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the chairperson of the Apex Council, Tendai Chikowore, said the increment offered by the government was way below the workers’ expectations.

"The workers’ side did not accept the offer as it fell far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL). The least paid worker would earn much less than 50% of the PDL as declared for January 2007," said Chikowore, refusing to divulge the exact figures offered by the government.

But sources told The Standard the government had proposed a basic $180 000 a month, way below the PDL. The highest earning teacher would get $240 000, excluding allowances.

This pay scale would apply to other professionals in the same grade as teachers, sources told The Standard yesterday.

The least-paid civil servant receives $30 000 a month while teachers earn $84 000 before their allowances are added.

The PDL is pegged at $566 000 but projections by economists indicate that it would have topped $842 000 by the time the new salaries would be paid in March.

Rampant inflation, nearing 1 600%, and the escalating cost of services have turned most civil servants, numbering 180 000, into paupers.

Chikowore, the president of Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (Zimta), said the Apex Council would again meet government representatives this week to further "beg" for government mercy.

"A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 21 February 2007 with the hope of agreeing on a better package for the workers. Meanwhile, we are giving feedback to our membership and stakeholders," she said.

Meanwhile, the radical Progressive Teachers’ Union (PTUZ) has vowed to continue with its teachers’ strike, which started two weeks ago, saying the proposed figures were "baffling".

PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said setting a new date by government was a deliberate attempt to buy time and confuse teachers.

"The Apex Council is the real enemy of workers," he said. "Where are they getting the mandate to represent the people? This offer by the government is an insult to the dignity and integrity of the Zimbabwean teachers."

Majongwe urged all teachers to join the strike to press for better salaries and allowances.

The radical PTUZ is demanding a monthly salary of $540 000, transport and housing allowances of $100 000 and $150 000 respectively for the least paid teacher.

Mariyawanda Nzuwah, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

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