The Basic Education Teachers Union in Luapula Province has issued a two weeks ultimatum in which government should complete negotiations with its leaders.
This is contained in a Press Release to ZANIS in Mansa today signed by Luapula Betuz Provincial Chairperson Godfrey Chunga and Provincial Secretary Chanda Mutale.
According to the statement, the resolution was arrived at during a provincial meeting held on Monday.
The Union has warned that failure by Government to comply with the ultimatum would compel BETUZ to chat appropriate action which it did not disclose.
Mr. Chungu said the union was concerned at the delay of the bargaining process, noting that Government was encouraging unnecessary industrial unrest by delaying negotiations.
Mr. Chungu said the union with its members were demanding an increment of 80 percent in salaries and housing allowance to increase from K100,000 paid to K500,000.
He said the current housing allowance was meagre as no reasonable shelter could be rented at such an amount.
“It is amazing that while some people are getting a lot of money, for housing allowance, the teacher is denied this privilege,” he said.
Mr. Chungu said BETUZ in the province wanted 2008 to stand exemplary as a productive year by ensuring that pupils did not suffer from any compelled and unneccessary industrial unrest.
The union further appealed to Government to pay outstanding housing allowances to teachers for fixed band and consider the demand in the shortest possible time.
Ba Teacher pa zed, kalilepuka.
Zeee
Be firm teachers do not settle for less? the government spends more money on ministers cell phone bills and fuel allowances. continue with the strike…i hope someday we shall elect leaders with a conscience? not these greedy individuals who recycle from one party to the other. viva economic justice to all…we are all entitled to our copper and the greedy politicians alone.