Zim teachers to strike
2009-07-08 09:48
Harare - Zimbabwe school teachers will go on strike on Friday to pressure the government to increase their salaries, their union said.
"We have resolved to boycott classes and stay away from schools on the 10th and July 17”, union president Takavafira Zhou said on Tuesday.
Teachers are demanding a monthly salary increase of $US454 from the current $100 said Zhou.
He said more boycotts would follow if the government did not respond to their demands by next week.
He said at a news conference: "Further class boycotts and stay aways every Thursday and Friday starting from July 23 will take place if government does not respond to our demand”.
Zimbabwe teachers returned to work in February following the creation of a unity government after striking since early last year to demand payment in foreign currency to cope with galloping inflation.
The embattled government has appealed for funds to rebuild the economy shattered by years of political strife.
China last week extended a $950m dollar loan to Zimbabwe, the largest amount secured by the new government since the power-sharing deal.
- AFP