Decision Of AEU Federal Conference - 16 January 2003
Zimbabwe
The Australian Education Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the attacks on democratic rights by the Government of Zimbabwe. In particular the AEU condemns the continued harassment of union leaders in Zimbabwe and is appalled at the attacks on teachers as they fight for improved pay and conditions undertaken by and encouraged by that Government.
Teachers in Zimbabwe are amongst the lowest paid workers in the country while being amongst the highest qualified. Soldiers, after 6 months training earn on average 60% more than teachers who have at least a three-year qualification.
The AEU reminds the Government of Zimbabwe that many Australian teachers went to work in Zimbabwe immediately following the victory of their liberation struggle, to help build the education system and thereby the newly independent nation. This Union therefore speaks with some legitimacy about the events that are occurring there today.
The AEU resolves to:
(i) raise its concerns with the Federal Government and Opposition and call on them to take appropriate political action to protest to the Zimbabwean Government and appropriate international forums in respect of the attacks on democratic rights;
(ii) protest to the Zimbabwean authorities over actions being taken against teachers in Zimbabwe because of their exercising their legitimate industrial and political rights;
(iii) urge Education International to continue to raise its concerns with the Zimbabwean authorities and in other appropriate forums such as the Commonwealth;
(iv) ask the Education International to investigate lodging a complaint to the International Labour Organisation regarding the dismissal of teachers in Zimbabwe;
(v) express its solidarity with ZIMTA and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) in their struggle for better wages and conditions for teachers and for labour, democratic and human rights in Zimbabwe and in particular the arrest and harassment of leaders of the PTUZ and dismissal of over 630 teachers for taking strike action;
(vi) approach teacher unions in Africa with which it has had relations, to support these actions.
Moved: Richard Walsham
Seconded: Susan Hopgood
CARRIED
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