By Staff Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says the recent suspension of workers by the University Of Zimbabwe (UZ) is anti-worker and sets the wrong example from such a reputable institution.
The University of Zimbabwe has suspended leaders of its teaching union after they voted to go on strike over poor pay and working conditions. The institution accused the union leaders of insubordination for having the vote in a university hall that was allegedly meant to be used as a lecture venue.
The suspended Association of University Teachers (AUT) members ;Phillemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka (president), Borncase Mwakorera (secretary-general), Obvious Vengeyi (treasurer), Justin Tandire (committee member) and Munyaradzi Gwisai (legal adviser) .
The gathering at the Great Hall intended to decide whether to go on strike (balloting) to press UZ management to raise their salaries to the pre-October 2018 level of US$2 500 per month.
The developments come at a time when several staff members at the prestigious higher education institution have alleged that the Professor Paul Mapfumo’s (UZ Vice Chancellor) administration which took charge in 2019 has pursued a slave –like stance against staff members who continue to endure a military styled command.
In a statement this week, the ZCTU acting secretary general, Kudakwashe Munengiwa said charges facing the suspended staffers were trumped –up.
“The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) without reservations condemns the actions of authorities at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) of suspending five union members for alleged “failure or refusal to obey a lawful order from an immediate superior” to vacate a teaching venue, thereby disrupting a scheduled lecture. They were suspended without pay and benefits,” he said.
Munengiwa accused the management at UZ of taking an anti-workers stance as evidenced by reports that UZ registrar Munyaradzi Madambi and a Mr Mushayi reportedly instructed the AUT members to vacate the hall to give way to a Chinese lecture, but they refused, saying they had booked the hall for their meeting.
“This type of attitude by management cannot be tolerated by workers and the ZCTU fully backs AUT in its quest for better salaries for its members. The ZCTU would like to urge the UZ management to speedily reinstate all the workers as any delays are tantamount to disregarding the principles of labour relations and a violation of human and trade union rights.
“We view UZ management’s stance of suspending union leaders as undermining social dialogue processes and also as unnecessary,” added Munengiwa.
