TTU takes council to court over dues

What you need to know:

  • TTU Mwanza Region secretary Asha Juma said more than 200 teachers had not been paid their dues since June, last year, adding that her officer had already compiled their names.

Mwanza. The Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) is set to lodge a petition at the Court of Mediation and Arbitration (CMA) seeking to compel the Mwanza City Council to pay outstanding teachers’ transfer allowances amounting to Sh70 million.

TTU Mwanza Region secretary Asha Juma said more than 200 teachers had not been paid their dues since June, last year, adding that her officer had already compiled their names.

“The list is ready and our legal officers are in the process of finalizing procedures before filing the petition on Monday (today),” she said.

Ms Juma added that TCU had no option but to go to court after the council showed that it was “unwilling” to settle the claims.

“We sent several reminders to the council, but nothing has been paid. We have now opted for legal action,” she said.

TTU Mwanza chairman Sibora Kishili said the council also owed teachers leave and medical allowances and salary arrears totalling hundreds of millions of shillings.

He also asked authorities to improve the working environment for teachers in schools in Nyamagana District.

Mr Sibora said many primary and secondary schools in the district had been overwhelmed by a sharp increase in enrolments in the last two years.

“Many schools face an acute shortage of classrooms, forcing teachers to work in terrible conditions...this has to change,” he said.