Trade union rights are protected by human rights treaties

THE Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and other agreements cover freedoms of assembly and association, workers’ rights to collective bargaining, and workers’ rights to information and consultation.

By committing themselves to ensure that trade union rights can be exercised, States recognise that a free and vibrant trade union movement is a pillar of democracy and an indicator of a nation’s progressive development.

By respecting the workers they employ as public servants freedom to form unions and bargain collectively, States implement the fundamental labour standards they committed to respect through their membership to the International Labour Organisation.

Providing institutional, transparent and democratic channels for negotiation to teacher unions nurtures a serene education environment.

Emerging issues have a forum to be addressed constructively in a legal and bi- or tripartite framework.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has expressed concern over various challenges faced by female teachers at their workstations and homes and likened their tribulations to gender-based violence (GBV).

The Artuz made the remarks after joining the world to commemorate the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) running from November 25 to December 10.

The localised theme for this year’s commemorations is GenderBased Violence: Creating Safe Spaces for Women.

Despite government denials, the 12 Days of Action paralysed the invigilation of the examinations.

Last week, most practical subjects were supposed to be written, but teachers stood firm on their demand for an invigilation allowance by not invigilating.

This resulted in learners doing practicals on their own without supervision or invigilating because of the adamant stance taken by government and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council.

Headmasters were most affected as they had to supervise several writing classes of up to 60 students resulting in chaotic scenes at schools.

Reports reaching Artuz say some students were left with no option, but to abandon practical as they could not access examination material because there were no invigilators.