Civil servants strike

The NJNC brings together Government and workers representatives to the negotiating table.
The meeting comes at a time the civil servants’ strike gathered momentum yesterday, leaving the education sector paralysed.
Confirming the latest development yesterday, Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga said: “The Government now has a position paper on salaries and conditions of service for public servants, which will be presented to the NJNC on Wednesday January 25, 2012.”
The Apex Council yesterday described the first day of the strike as a “resounding success”.
The strike is expected to last until Friday and nurses are likely to join by end of day today if negotiations with the Health Services Board yield nothing.
The Apex Council consists of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe and the Public Service Association. 
“In an effort to build on the momentum gathered, Apex Council will do picketing at a few government offices, schools and colleges, which have remained pockets of resistance.
“The strike will demonstrate the seriousness and resolve workers can take on bread and butter issues,” said the Apex Council in a statement.
Media, Information and Publicity Permanent Secretary Mr George Charamba yesterday said the Presidency was closely monitoring the process of negotiations between Government and civil servants and needed “something” to be done for the workers.
Mr Charamba said Acting President John Nkomo last week summoned the interministerial taskforce on civil servants and asked it to urgently consolidate Government’s position paper.
He said it was agreed that while negotiations continued, “some comfort” had to be extended to civil servants and the Presidency was anxiously waiting for tomorrow’s meeting.
“Last week, the Acting President summoned the taskforce for civil servants including Finance Minister Tendai Biti needing to be briefed on the progress or lack of it in respect of the negotiations between Government and its workers,” he said.
“The Presidency is very close to this whole process principally out of concern for the welfare of the workforce and also because the Presidency wants to ensure continuity of supply of public services.”
He said the Acting President had indicated to the taskforce that this was a “very loaded” year and service delivery should not be compromised.
“This is a critical period where the year has just begun and the tempo of Government work has set to pick pace. It’s a very loaded year by national programmes as we have the referendum and general elections,” he said.
“That means it cannot unfold in an environment of an unstable bureaucracy hence the invitation of the ministers to give a thorough brief.”
Mr Charamba said scenarios were drawn up for the appreciation of the Acting President.
“During the meeting, it was agreed that there was a need to approximate the salaries towards the Poverty Datum Line equally appreciating constraints Government is facing by way of shrinkage of revenue,” he said.
“There was recognition of possibilities within the country’s means, the most which is an interrupted transaction related to the mining sector, principally diamond resources.
“Should this be allowed to operate unimpeded from external forces, then we should be able to bring better comfort to the workers.”
Civil servants salaries have always been tied to an increase in diamond revenue and last week Minister Biti attacked the US for placing mining companies, Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources under sanctions.
In a letter to US assistant secretary of treasury, Mr Charles Collyns, Minister Biti pleaded with the Americans to scrap the embargo, saying capital projects worth $600 million proposed in his 2012 national budget totally depended on diamond revenue.
Business came to a standstill at most schools in the country with civil servants unions saying they were pressing ahead with the strike until they get an increment.
In Bulawayo, pupils were spotted milling around school premises as early as 10am while others walked back home after being dismissed from school.
Although some school teachers reported for duty, the news crew observed that no lessons took place as pupils were ordered to do revision on their own.
Although other Government departments were open, the news crew observed that business was at a snail pace as civil servants opted for a go-slow.
Similar situations were reported in Hurungwe, Gutu, Harare, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Mutare, Beitbridge and Mutoko.
At Government departments most workers reported for duty while others said they were on go slow. – Chronicle Reporter-Harare Bureau.