A lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) was arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) after protesting at the agency over poor compensation.
Uz’s lecturers were hit by low wages on Wednesday morning, but they claim they lost their purchasing power amid the country’s deteriorating economic situation.
While picketing in at university, police arrested a leader from the Association of College Teachers (AUT).
Aut President Philemon Chambubruka told Newzimbabwe.com that he was angry at the arrest of the members.
“The current situation is that a strike is ongoing. For now, we are encouraging members not to report their duties. We are not threatened. We are angry at the arrest of our colleagues,” Chambruka said.
UZ instructors are unhappy with the $250 USD per month and Zig 6,000 wages. Their light-like form is further exacerbated by a lack of working tools, forcing them to perform their duties using their own equipment.
The AUT is requesting members a monthly salary of $2,500, which they claim is consistent with wages at other learning institutions in the area.
In a letter addressed to the university, the AT, copied to the Ministry of Higher Education, said he was tired of the government not addressing the workers’ complaints.
“Despite long-term involvement over 18 months, employers and ministers were unable to meet AUT requirements or make reasonable alternative offers, resulting in the issuance of NO Settlement Certificates.
“The conflict remains unresolved, and the instructor and his family suffer from extreme poverty, with a net monthly salary of less than USD 250 and a Zig of less than $6,000, and employers hope that employees will subsidize it by providing personal property as a tool for work, including transportation such as laptops, smartphones, transportation, workplaces and more.
Read the letter: “AUT as a registered labor union, and employees, as read in Section 65(3) of the Zimbabwe Constitution, intends to exercise their rights under Section 104(2) of the Labor Law, and will undertake collective employment actions, including strikes, for effective resolutions in the conflict.”
