Civil servants resolve to strike

The Government workers said their efforts to engage their employer had failed and they would strike if nothing positive happens within the next 14 days.

 

Public examinations for O and A-Levels begin on 26 October and the strike, if successful, is likely to impact negatively on the exams as teachers are expected to invigilate.

The Apex Council, a body that brings together all civil servants unions, met in Harare and resolved to down tools.

According to Section 16:04 of the Public Service Act and the Public Service Regulations (2000), negotiators first engage each other and if no solution is found they can call an independent arbitrator.

If the arbitrator’s decision is disputed by the employees, they can proceed to give a 14-day strike notice.

Newly elected Apex Council chairperson Mr David Dzatsunga said they had been left with no option but to go on strike if their demands were not met.

He said for the meantime, each union would be mobilising its members for the strike.

“Government has decided to keep mum on our issue and it means our calls are falling on deaf ears,” he said.

“Government has remained intransigent in violation of its own laws. We have decided to do what is required by the Labour Act and we are starting to mobilise beginning today.”

The workers on Tuesday gave Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga a 48-hour ultimatum to invite them for a meeting.

Minister Matibenga did not respond.

Mr Dzatsunga said Minister Matibenga was insensitive to the plight of workers.

“It simply shows the calibre of ministers we have in this inclusive Government. She does not even bother to say a word to us, meaning we are useless to her,” he said.

“The letter we wrote to her was never responded to yet she should be the one telling us the Government position.”

The workers needed a meeting with Government to be apprised of salary negotiations and how bonuses will be paid this year.

Mr Dzatsunga said there was no need to call an independent arbitrator because Government will never declare a deadlock in salary negotiations.

“Government will never declare a stalemate, hence the issue of an arbitrator becomes useless,” he said.

“We cannot continue being subservient to laws that oppress us and the best way is to take the struggle forward.”

Mr Dzatsunga said civil servants unions had decided to unite to press for salaries in line with the poverty datum line.

The lowest paid Government worker is getting $296, while the poverty datum line is at $596.

Civil servants have been pushing for a “decent” salary in line with the poverty datum line since the introduction of multiple currencies in 2009.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti recently said the payment of civil servants’ bonuses was in doubt this year because there is no money.