Daily News
By Lloyd Mbiba
9 January 2012
Harare - Education minister David Coltart says he cannot stop teachers from joining a looming civil servants’ strike, warning that public schools that open tomorrow face a return to collapse because of government’s failure to pay adequate salaries.
Civil servants, of which close to half are teachers, say they will take “drastic” action if government does not give a firm commitment to raise salaries when the parties meet on Wednesday.
Teachers’ unions have voiced their support for the demand for more pay, leaving government schools to open amid uncertainty.
Reacting to threats of a strike by teachers ahead of schools opening tomorrow, Coltart said he had no power to stop the action since his ministry was not the teachers’ employer.
Teachers, like other civil servants, are employed by the Public Service Commission, which falls under the ministry of Public Service.
The Apex Council, which is the umbrella representation body for civil servants, last week appeared determined to take action if government again refuses to increase salaries.
Tendai Chikowore, leader of the council, said government workers were now fed up with the parent lack of interest in improving their livelihoods. Chikowore is also the president of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association.
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