Teachers in Northern Province have ended their two-week long strike action and have since resumed work.
Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) Provincial chairperson, Nondo Kasanda confirmed the development in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde yesterday.
Mr. Kasanda, who is also Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Nakonde branch, said teachers in all the 12 districts in Northern Province have ended their strike action and gone back to work.
He said the union in the province was happy that the teachers have decided to resume work despite being unhappy with the 15 per cent salary increment which it signed with government recently.
He commended teachers for their resolve to resume work in the interest of the children and the nation at large.
Mr. Kasanda said the union was aware that its membership was disappointed and frustrated with the outcome of the protracted negotiations for increased salaries and improved conditions of service for the year 2009.
He has also supported calls for the formation of one teacher union so as to increase the bargaining power.
And Mr. Kasanda has said teachers in Northern Province have welcomed the appointment of Dora Siliya as Minister of Education, replacing Geoffrey Lungwangwa, who has gone to the ministry of Communications.
Mr. Kasanda appealed to Ms. Siliya to quickly settle down and ensure that a technical committee is appointed to look into the issues of housing allowances for the teachers and ensure that they are concluded soon.
The ZNUT provincial chairperson has also invited Ms. Siliya to visit Northern Province schools in Chiluba and Kaputa districts for her to appreciate the problems being faced by the teachers there.
He also appealed to the minister to ensure that teachers were paid their outstanding fixed housing allowances in good time.
ZANIS
well,if the teachers have done it in their best of interest then its okay but if they acted under the influence of government pressure then its a shame!
utulo, enjoy your 15% increament.
Ok thats good….you are used to see your children with amamina. They will never enjoy life like the children of these stupid mmd.
have the terms and conditions being reached , i feel very sorry for the teachers, why stirke if you know you can go all the way to reach your demands?.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE PROPAGANDA TO ME – The idea is to let other teachers on strike read this item and maybe decide to go back to work as well. I don’t think teachers trust this government anymore.