By Own Correspondent

THE Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has criticised civil servants’ salaries negotiations organ for negotiating in bad faith.

The calls come at a time when the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) has failed to breakthrough in civil servants’ salary increment talks for reasons attributed to the government’s lack of cooperation.

Currently, most civil servants are taking home a paltry US$270 per month and around ZWG 2 000 per month against a cost of living estimated to be around US$600 for a family of six.

But ARTUZ contends that ZCPSTU is negotiating in bad fail and short changing the government workers.

“NJNC Salary negotiations are a bedroom affair between the government and a bunch of handpicked love birds of the ruling elites. They can spend months talking to each other without consulting those they pretend to represent and without giving any concrete feedback.

“We continue to call for the establishment of a genuine Collective Bargaining Council in line with s 203 (1) (b) read with s 65 (5) of the constitution. Civil servants have a right to a fair wage birthed from genuine Collective Bargaining,” union said.

Rattled by the peanuts salary payments towards the schools opening for the third term of 2024, ARTUZ urged members to engage in passive resistance.

“Noting that schools open on 10 September 2024 for a demanding 3rd term during which public examinations will be written; I do hereby advise you as follows; On 10 September 2024, I will seek mental health support from experts as I prepare for the third term. The outcome of the therapy will be advised at the end of the day.

“I am hopeful that the employer addresses the incapacitation crisis as soon as practically possible. I am waiting for guidance from my union on the way forward if the employer fails to address the incapacitation crisis,” the union said in a letter.