Teachers strike over broken promises and low pay

Zimbabwean teachers have gone on a nationwide strike to press for better pay and allowances following a breakdown in negotiations with the government to increase salaries by 100 percent. The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has been threatening since June this year to pursue industrial action over low salaries, after giving the government a 15 September deadline. The boycott, which kicked off on Wednesday, comes at a crucial time in the academic calendar as students prepare for the end-of-year examinations. ZIMTA secretary general Dennis Sinyolo told IRIN the teachers had embarked on the strike action following a deadlock in negotiations with the government. Earlier this week, the education ministry said it had no money to meet their demands. On average, teachers in Zimbabwe earn a basic salary of Zim $670,000 per month (about US $120), but the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe says a food basket for an average family of five now costs Zim $1.4 million a month. In January teachers called for a 1,200 percent wage increase to keep salaries in tandem with rising inflation. Government and ZIMTA negotiators settled for a 600 percent increase, but teachers have so far received just half of that in two instalments of 250 percent and 50 percent. Teachers had also expected an additional 100 percent cost-of-living adjustment by July. After protracted negotiations lasting almost nine months, teachers accepted staggered percentage salary increases during the course of the year. "Our members have been patient, hoping something would come out of negotiations, and now feel their trust has been misplaced," said Sinyolo. Last month government gave state employees a 230 percent increase in their housing allowances and 150 percent extra to cover transport costs, but the teachers say this falls far too short of their expectations.