adminHeather Charema in Chegutu
Municipal workers here are set to attach council property worth US$700 000 if their salary arrears are not cleared.
They are targeting service delivery trucks and new vehicles that were acquired for directors.
The workers, who are being owed at least US$700 000 in salaries for six months from January to June 2017, have since taken their employer to court demanding that their arrears be cleared in foreign currency or alternatively in properties.
The local authority had reportedly come up with a payment plan that would allow them to clear the arrears in 50 to 58 months.
According to court papers seen by The Herald, the workers represented by the Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Workers Union (ZURCWU) disapproved of the amortisation plan proposed by the municipality saying the plan was harsh for workers.
“While the respondent acknowledges the liability arising from salaries and wages backlogs dating back to six months (January 2017 – June 2017). There is a disagreement on the respondent’s proposed Amortisation plan which could take up to 50 to 58 months for arrears to be cleared. The plan is insincere and insensitive to the plight of workers who are struggling and are sinking deeper into debt each day the arrears remain unpaid,” reads the letter
ZURCWU secretary-general Mr Chamunorwa Zindimu said the municipality had capacity to pay its workers.
“Chegutu municipality has capacity for a more realistic and quicker plan but is only prioritising other issues at the expense of workers’ welfare. It recently took a delivery of a fleet of brand-new vehicles and also procured the other fleet of new vehicles for top management, a clear sign that it can mobilise financial resources if there is commitment,” he said.
“We expect council to also pay us all overtimes backdated to 2009 and make them appear on our payslips since it is also part of our remuneration. If they fail to do so, then we are going to attach properties equivalent.
The local authority, Mr Zindimu said, discriminated against junior workers while availing more priorities to the top management.
“In February 2017, senior and middle managers bargained and allocated themselves commercial, low and medium density stands for free yet the rest of the workers were ignored. Council Guaranteed Loans were also availed to them with top managers accessing $40 000 and $15 000 for middle managers. We are saying that the same should be given to every employee,” he said.
Mr Garikai Chikazhe, Chegutu municipality workers committee secretary said the municipality should pay with properties for the money had devalued.
“Our salaries were in US dollars, even if workers are paid today it is already devalued. If workers are given stands like they gave to top and middle managers, it will be worthwhile,” he said.
In an interview, Chegutu Town Clerk, Mr Alex Mandigo said the arrears had accumulated from difficulties precipitated by debt write off which resulted in council running costs being out of sync with revenue collected.
“We do not deny that workers are owed by council, even I the town clerk and management also have huge arrears that we are being owed by Council.
“We are working out strategies to retire the arrears with employees and we are building reserves to liquidate the arrears through a special arrangement with our bankers,” he said.
The local authority, Mr Mandigo said, had requested Government permission to offset the arrears with allocation of stands to employees.
“We have also requested Government to offset the arrears with allocation of stands to employees owed and that application is still pending with the Ministry in terms of approval.”
Online Reporter