Schools heading towards complete shutdown

Teachers of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice, they have downed tools and are demanding a living wage. An average of an 18% of teachers reported for duty today according to a survey conducted by our research department earlier today. The teachers are braving victimization from both State actors and non-State actors.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ salutes all teachers who have taken heed of the call of a job action. An old adage says, “If you worry so much about the bad things that can happen to you in life, you will eventually convince yourself that it’s better to do nothing.” As a Union we have endured persecution in the form of illegal arrests, torture, arbitrarily detention among other gross human rights violations. These trials and tribulations have only served to unite us and embolden us. Our membership has assumed an inspiring revolutionary mood and are now determined to fight for what is justifiably theirs, a living wage.

We encourage sister Unions to remain loyal to the workers’ cause as we traverse this revolutionary journey. Those who are going to sellout along the journey will not only be judged harshly by history but will instantly fall victim to the wrath of the working class.

It is a great travesty of justice to pay a worker US$120 monthly at a time when their monthly expenditure is way above US$800. Those teachers who continue to offer their labor under such difficult conditions are either naïve or masquerading to be teachers yet they are receiving a pay check from elsewhere.

We encourage the State through one of its elements, the government to quickly come down to the negotiating table before schools completely and permanently shut down.

State propaganda of whatever form or character will not mislead our intellectually gifted teachers. Resources being poured on a futile propaganda mission and a reckless orgy of violence should be channeled towards a better wage for the teachers.

It is common knowledge that, “If we fight we die, If we don’t fight we die.” So we will fight to the bitter end!

Source: Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe

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