Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), said he hoped the kingdom would be brought to a standstill.
Unions had prepared to strike for three days last month (June 2011) but were presented by court action, instigated by the Swazi Government. Other unions and civic organisations in Swaziland are expected to join the July protest.
Mazibuko also predicted teachers would take immediate action (separate from the three-day protest) if the government was unable to pay their salaries (or imposed pay cuts).
The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper, reported Mazibuko saying, ‘If salaries are forcefully being cut, teachers will engage in a drastic action that we cannot even begin to describe because really no one ever rehearses what would happen if he or she step on burning coal. All I can say is that expect drastic actions from the teachers, come July 21[when salaries are due to be paid] we will see.’
About 2,300 teachers might not get paid.
Teachers recently wanted to take to the streets but the action was suspended when government went to court to challenge the legality of the protest action. The matter was then referred to the Conciliation Arbitration Mediation Commission (CMAC). However on Friday the matter was ruled to be an unresolved matter.
See also
SWAZI COURT CONFIRMS PROTEST BAN
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/06/swazi-court-confirms-protest-ban.html
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