adminThe Sunday Mail, May 2, 1993
WORKERS all over the world yesterday celebrated May Day, amid different economic and social scenarios.
For Zimbabweans, the celebrations came at a time of great difficulties for the workers, when thousands are losing their jobs and the general cost of living is getting beyond the reach of the working class.
According to the Central Statistical Office, the lower income group experienced an average price increase of 53 percent up to October last year, mainly through increases in prices of foodstuffs, accommodation and transport.
But this was a price that Zimbabwe had to pay to revitalise its economy and keep in line with world trends. The difficulties call for greater unity among Zimbabweans, the sort of unity they displayed in fighting last year’s devastating drought.
It is, therefore, disturbing that at a time of such difficulties relations between Government and workers’ unions have sunk to their lowest ebb.
It appears there is now very little co-operation between the two in trying to keep workers on the job or ensuring that they eat and live well.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
On Saturday, Zimbabwean workers join the global community in celebrating May Day and/or International Workers’ Day.
It is an open secret that a majority of formal jobs in Zimbabwe have been lost, but analysts must realise that more informal jobs have been created in the process, especially in the agricultural and mining industries. It is these areas that need to be conscientised about the genesis and importance of May Day.
Unions would be better off complementing Government efforts in order to upgrade the workers’ standards of living.
Unions will need to do more research into the performances of their sectors to equip themselves for the collective bargaining exercise.
Above all, there should be greater dialogue between workers and their various managements, and between these and the Government in order to make the best of the bad times.
Heads up to the Ministry of Finance, other line ministries and the private sector for ensuring that the Zimbabwe dollar has remained stable against the green back. Despite the stability of the local currency against the US$, workers would want to see their earnings matching the overall price increases in retail shops.
Online Reporter