The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has issued a statement in solidarity with striking health workers and lecturers at state institutions. PTUZ said an injury to one is an injury to all. Workers have been calling upon the government to restore the salaries they were getting prior to October 2018. Pindula News presents PTUZ’s statement below:
PTUZ SOLIDARITY MESSAGE WITH HEALTH WORKERS AND LECTURERS
The PTUZ would like to express its solidarity with workers under the Health Apex, as well as lecturers and non-academic staff In universities and colleges throughout the country. It is an incontrovertible fact that these workers, like teachers are suffering due to underpayment by government, with the result that most have been unable to discharge their duties as they ought to. We believe that government should make a deliberate effort to break the cycle of incapacitatlons that have inundated the labour space that over the past few years.
We demand that government address the demands of lecturers, health workers and teachers as a matter of urgency. It does not make sense that the social service sector in the country is tittering on the brink of collapse while government pretends that all is well. The restoration of the purchasing power of the work as it existed at the beginning of 2018 is very necessary and urgent. Government should also cease the weaponization of laws against workers who have genuine grievances.
The government should also urgently align labour laws to the constitution, which it has failed to do In the 10 years since the inauguration of the current constitution.
An injury to one is an injury to all