Source:Striking UZ lecturers demand backpay –Newsday Zimbabwe
A LABOUR dispute looms at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), as lecturers, who resumed their duties recently following a strike, accuse management of employing “dirty” tactics to punish them.
After a four-month strike, some UZ lecturers returned to work at the start of this semester, but the atmosphere remains fraught with uncertainty and dissatisfaction.
NewsDay heard that the university educators are yet to receive their salaries despite reporting for duty, raising concern over potential repercussions for those who participated in the strike. The lecturers expressed frustration.
“There appears to be silent moves to deal with those who were on strike,” one of them, who preferred anonymity, said.
“It is possible they are delaying putting people back on payroll so that they get frustrated and leave.”
It was established that there is growing fear among educators, especially following the suspension and firing of the leadership of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), leaving lecturers without a unified voice.
They have appealed their suspension at the Labour Court.
“We are seeing papers coming to department boards across the campus for new appointments,” reported one dean involved in the recruitment process.
This initiative has left many educators anxious about job security as they fear losing their positions amid ongoing negotiations for better pay and working conditions.
Another lecturer, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said they went back to work to safeguard their jobs.
“We went back with a view to wait for other unions to do their AUT votes,” he said.
Source: Zimbabwe Situation
