Union for urban, rural council nurses

Panashe Mabeza

NURSES in council-run medical facilities have instituted processes to break away from the Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) and the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) arguing the bodies are not adequately representing their grievances.

Government has since gazetted an application by the nurses to register the Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers Union (ZURCNWU).

The professionals claim ZUCWU is a ‘blanket grouping’ for all employees in local authorities; and of diverse professions, hence there is little appreciation of the nurses’ concerns.

They also argue that ZINA brings together nurses from diverse employment backgrounds, a situation that breeds challenges during collective bargaining processes.

According to a recent Government Gazette, Registrar of Labour Grace Kanyayi announced that: “It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 33 of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01), that an application has been received for the registration of Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers Union to represent the interests of nurses in urban and rural authorities in Zimbabwe.”

“Any person who wishes to make representations relating to the application is invited to lodge such representation…”

In an interview with The Sunday Mail ZURCNWU President Mr Simbarashe Tafirenyika said the union would represent nurses who are being short changed in terms of labour representation.

“The objective of the union is to represent the nurses who are prejudiced when it comes to labour representation with their employers,” he said.

“Most nurses in local authority run institutions are represented by people and organisations not part of the nursing workforce.”