Melinda Kusemachibi
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) leadership has said the labor movement does not condone government’s criminalization of workers’ issues as they will be advocating for their rights.
ZCTU president Florence Mucha Taruvinga said this while addressing members of the new ZCTU leadership and workers’ representatives from affiliate unions at the organization’s boardroom in Masvingo Central Business District (CBD) on January 24, 2022.
She said that as workers they are going to continue fighting for their rights especially the aim of being paid in United States dollars (US$).
“Recently, we were at court as the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe( ARTUZ) members were arrested for demanding to be paid in US$. As workers, we will continue to fight for our rights so that we will be paid in US$,” said Taruvinga.
She went on to say that the market is demanding US$ yet the workers are being paid in local currency.
“It is not that Zimbabwean workers want to go against the law, but the market is demanding US$ and workers want to be paid in US$ as we are the same customers that you expect to come and buy in your shops with the US$,” said Taruvinga.
She also said all citizens should work hand in hand so as to help each other fight against inhumane treatment.
“Citizens and workers’ representatives should work hand in glove so that we help each other to fight for our rights,” said the ZCTU president.
Following the arrest of 16 ARTUZ members while demonstrating against low wages in Harare on January 12, 2022, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called upon the government of Zimbabwe to respect the rights of workers.
ITCU Secretary General Sharan Burrow wrote a letter dated January 14 to President Emmerson Mnangagwa bemoaning the deteriorating working conditions and demanded that police officers involved in the arrest of teachers be brought to book.
The feud between teacher unions and government continues unabated as educators continue to demand the restoration of 2018 pre-October salaries pegged at US$540.
