By Dr Takafira Zhou.
Harare, Zimbabwe. – It is a fact that capital and labour are strange bad fellows. The recent Apex romance with government has eraised all our hopes for an urgent status restoration for teachers, dignity and worthiness of teachers as a vital cog of societal development.
Against a backdrop of the 7 clamour for 100% salary increase; unconditional reinstitution of vacation leave; 75% of basic salary as rural and hardship allowance by Fozeu; declaration of schools as politics free zones, and reinstitution of a myriad of responsibility allowances etc,
Apex has nichodemously agreed to a
-17.5% salary increase
-conditional vacation leave muddled and meddled in vague cash in lieu of leave
-5% increase on rural and hardship allowance.
That Apex Council agreed to a government pathetic offer is betrayal of the worst order.
-It confirms our long held view that the real danger is not so much of intransigent and irresponsible government as of the very people masquading as representatives of workers when in actual fact they are busy cutting deals with government.
-Apex leaders nichodemously agreed to the pathetic increase because they wanted to accompany government officials to Switzerland in early June in a ILO trip in which they would receive hefty allowances.
-To agree to an increase that would be effected from end of July is a betrayal of the worst order as by then such paltry increase would have been eroded by price increase of basic commodities.
-An increase backdated to the last time when teachers received a salary increase would have seen teachers getting a reasonable lump sum to cushion them from the current vagaries of hopelessness and poverty. Why Apex leaders could not smell the coffee of the negotiations in the health sector is an indicator of the hopelessness of such leaders, lack of negotiation skills and lackadaisical leadership style. It also shows that Apex has outlived its usefulness and has limited longevity and applicability in the fast moving world of the 21st century.
-Teachers cannot therefore continue to employ hyenas to take care of goats and when the goats are consumed, wonder why?
-The total disregard of allowances such as HOD, class teacher, 6th form, invigilation of public examinations etc in the negotiations is another indicator of the liability of Apex Council and its moribund nature.
-Worse still no attempt was made to guarantee security of teachers and learners particularly during election period and therefore ensure that schools are institutions of teaching and learning.
What therefore is the way forward given the lethargy, lackadaisicalism, betrayal and traitorship of Apex Council?
-Fundamentally teachers must force all union leaders to abandon the perennial ulcer called Apex which in principle is the evil of all evils and problem of all problems faced by teachers in Zimbabwe. If trade union leaders want to continue betraying teachers’ interest under the Apex masquarade, the best members can do is to leave such unions or call leaders to order.
– Teachers must whip leaders into an education sector forum Fozeu and negotiate as a sector. The achievement made by the health sector after abandoning Apex Council is there for all level headed educators to see. Above all the statutory Instrument 141 of 1997 that established National Joint Negotiation Council (NJNC) between government team and workers (Apex) team is now obsolete, rusty and archaic. It only allows for collective begging and not bargaining.
-Over and above Statutory 141 of 1997 has been superseded by section 65 of our new constitution and therefore now has no locus standi (legal standing).
-Why some leaders want to respect sonething that has a legal lacuna baffles logic and common sense and reflect deliberate salivation at government’s poisoned carrot in order to betray teachers and perpetuate their poverty and misery.
-Not surprisingly such apex leaders are quick to accept hogwash arguments that government has no money, yet there are clear signs of opulence, extravagance and self enrichment by some economic bandits in government. Why is there a scramble to remain in government by officials if such government has no money? Our reasoned analysis and judgement show that there is money in Zimbabwe but there in no priority of investing in teacher motivation and public education by some vandals masquarading as leaders. Rather politicians in Zimbabwe are investing money in retention of political power than service delivery. High profile corruption has become routine rather than episodic.
-There is need for a new collective bargaining chamber as envisaged by section 65 of our constitution. Such a collective bargaining chamber cannot be provided on a silver platter by an intransigent and irrespobsible government leaders. It will take the unity, vigilance and resilience of teachers for such meaningful collective bargaining chamber to become a reality.
-All teachers in schools must join unions of their choice as non unionised teachers are a draw back to the collective battle of teachers. The battle for reasonable salaries require numbers which unfortunately are not there given the stupidity of non unionised teachers who think teacher status restoration would come like manner from heaven. History has none of those mistakes. Teachers must organise and fight for the improvement of their salaries and working conditions.
– There is need for unity across union divide and a new culture of discussing teachers’ issues at workplaces so that teachers in schools can send a common message to leaders in unions. Teachers must not continue to agonise but rather organise for better things to come. Ptuz leaders will continue to channel teachers’ pent up issues to meaningful direction and remind government that it is the number one stumbling block to an establishment of an engaging curriculum and credible education system in Zimbabwe by its disrespect of teachers and toxic policies.
The Voice of Teachers is the voice of God. Leaders can only disrespect such a voice at their own peril.
Shapper Ptuz shapper!
Viva Union of choice viva!
Venceremos
Dr Takavafira Zhou
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