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Gibson Nyikadzino Correspondent
Teachers’ unions planning to prejudice children whose parents have already paid their fees as the second term began yesterday are headed for a beautiful disaster.
Could it be that their days are numbered?
The era for people to employ archaic and resentful methodologies to get victory in negotiations can never be resurrected in the 21st century as the art of negotiation is becoming dynamic by the day.
During the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-twentieth century, United States of America’s prominent black leaders Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King Jr all sought to reach the same goal for the black population, but using different methodologies.
Malcolm X advocated for what is today termed “black lunaticism” following his “by any means necessary” way to achieve goals.
His critics have pointed at his militant approach as a way that derails one’s goodwill towards finding solutions to common issues affecting mankind.
On the other hand, Dr King advocated for negotiation through non-violent means.
Dr King, a minister with the Baptist Church, once said: “The purpose of our direct-action programme is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.
“I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation.”
While it is unfortunate that Malcolm X and Dr King were assassinated in 1965 and 1968 respectively, it is plausible to note that in a period of crisis, negotiations take centre stage.
Even wars that claim a huge number of casualties end up at the negotiating table.
Zimbabwean teachers’ unions continued to defy the friendly gesture of the Government, which has already warned them against downing tools and withdrawing their labour when schools open.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Dr Takavafira Zhou last week claimed that as a union, they intended to bring the whole education sector to a halt if their concerns were not addressed.
Government has, however, pleaded with the unions to stop prioritising anarchy over order as the employer has opened the door to dialogue and negotiation.
Teachers have been going on strike and their grievances were addressed.
Government is still keen to address their plight in a civil manner.
The militant approach which the teachers’ representatives are pursuing to settle issues is “fanciful and misguided” because it “is not rooted in a genuine understanding of union leadership and organisation.”
Some of the union leaders pushing Government to the brink are not teachers, but people who want to benefit financially from the increment they are advocating.
JF Kennedy used to say, “We cannot negotiate with people who say what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable”.
Whenever there is a conflict, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging the existing relationship and deepening it.
Real teachers should learn from the unfortunate case of nurses who thought they would be protected by their union leaders.
There is no salvation in numbers. The union leaders have no sincerity in their negotiations as they just want all to be theirs.
But the rationale of their militant method is wilting under the heat of fact.
Government is still open to negotiation, hoping the unions and teachers will not cross the red line and disenfranchise students.
The Government-teachers issue confronting the nation today is primarily a moral issue that is as old as the Scriptures.
Those who do nothing are inviting shame, but those who act boldly are recognising right as well as reality.
One needs not participate directly to get involved.
It takes two to tango. Teachers should not be used as pawns and rooks in this intended clash orchestrated by their representatives to take Government head-on.
Never should children, parents and the nation be held to ransom by a few individuals that want to seek relevance in trying to do good while using irrelevant methodologies.
Online Reporter