adminMidlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council employees, the majority of them in the engineering department, yesterday staged a sit-in to protest against the delay in paying their September and October salaries.
The sit in comes hardly two weeks after they staged a similar protest demanding August salaries which have since been paid.
The workers representative, however, appeared not keen on the strike as they gave a divided position.
The Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers Union (ZCWU) chairman Erasmus Ntonga said his union had not been consulted on the issue and as such he was not in a position to comment.
He referred questions to the Water Allied Union of Zimbabwe (WAUZ) whom he said were behind the strike.
“I am not at liberty to talk about the job action because I was away the past week. Plans for the strike were never communicated to me. You can speak to the WAUZ executive who are said to be behind the planned job action,” he said.
Workers who had gathered at the council works yard in the Central Business District were baying for Ntonga’s blood as well as that of his secretary Kudakwashe Munengiwa, whom they accused of selling out to the management.
They said the two were dancing to the whims of management.
WAUZ vice chairman, James Mucherera refuted inciting the industrial action.
He said workers had gathered in order to receive feedback on the issue of salaries which they had taken up with the ZCWU leadership which is recognised by council.
“This is not a strike but we are just waiting for feedback from Munengiwa whom we tasked to take our grievances to council management but up to now he has not turned up. We tasked Munengiwa because council management does not recognise our union.
“We just want to understand why council is saying that there is no money when they are planning to hold Centenary Celebrations yet we have not received our salaries. Where are they getting that money from? This is a case of misplaced priorities,” he said.
By the time Chronicle left the works yard in the afternoon, Munengiwa had not turned up and workers were still milling around the premises.
They said unless they were paid, they would do everything in their power to stop the Centenary Celebrations.
Celebrations to mark Gweru’s 100 years of existence have been slated for Saturday.
Contacted for comment Gweru mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi said he was out of town.
He however said council was on top of the situation.
He said: “I have heard about that but I am in Beitbridge at the moment. I hear management is dealing with the matter and everything is under control.”
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