‘No basis for civil servants strike’

Theseus Shambare

Representatives of public sector workers have no legal basis to call for industrial action since negotiations with Government for a fresh remuneration package have not deadlocked, a Government Minister has said.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told The Sunday Mail that parties can only declare a deadlock after convening three consecutive meetings that end in a stalemate.

Government negotiators and civil servant representatives have met twice on June 17 and July 11 under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) in salary talks that have failed to break the impasse.

Following the meetings, Government effected a 100 percent salary increase for all public sector workers.

Said Minister Mavima: “At this particular point in time, they should not abandon the NJNC.

“This is the only legitimate platform for our civil servants to negotiate.

“Also, the current round of negotiations is not complete yet.

“We met only two times and they cannot declare industrial action unless we have met three times.”

He said Government remains fully committed to negotiating with worker representatives, adding that “we still have the window for us to continue discussing if the offer by Government can be revised.”

Minister Mavima called on worker unions to temper their demands considering the economic challenges being faced by the country.

“They should look at the macro-economic situation and see that some of the demands may be impossible at the moment because of the fiscal situation we face as a country.

“If we continue to work together like we are doing then we will grow the national cake and everyone will be happy eventually.”

A new framework to enhance the efficacy of collective bargaining was in the works he added.

Public Sector Trade Unions president Mrs Cecilia Alexander called on Government to seriously consider adjusting its workers’ remuneration.

She warned against taking advantage of the workers’ plight to push political agendas.

“Should this issue escalate to the level of calling for industrial action, we are saying to those who might want to hijack our industrial action for political gain that the issue is for civil servants and their employer no hijackers will be tolerated or invited,” she added.