adminThis is the second time this year that the workers have gone on strike after taking similar action in May.
When Chronicle visited the council offices at about 10am, it found the workers from all departments, which included engineering, housing and community service and administration gathered in the yard.
Also joining the strike were nurses from the council run Chinotimba Clinic.
Workers who spoke to Chronicle vowed they would not return to work until their four months outstanding salaries including their annual bonuses had been paid in full.
The workers’ committee chairperson, Mrs Elizabeth Ndlovu, said they were last paid in July adding that management and even the councillors were not being sincere.
“We have a problem here. We have gone for four months without pay. That is why we are here. We have come to collect what council owes us. In addition to that we also want our annual bonuses. We pay rentals, we have children going to school, we also eat and we don’t know how they think we are surviving,” she said.
“When we ask for our salaries, we are told that the council does not have any money. However, management gets their salaries on time, their vehicles are fuelled every time and school fees for their children at expensive schools are paid on time. Their ‘garden boys’ are also paid on time.”
She said even the councillors were receiving their sitting allowances on time yet council was saying it did not have money to pay the workers.
“When they go for workshops, they are given their full allowances, the travel and subsistence allowances, accommodation and all are paid. They do not consider us at all. How do they expect us to live when we are not getting our salaries,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
Another worker, speaking on condition of anonymity said the strike would continue until their grievances have been addressed.
“The management is not honest, even the devil is honest compared to them, all they do is lie. We wish the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo, would intervene because we are suffering. The Mayor (Councillor Nkosilathi Jiyane) is not here, he is running away yet he tells the Press that we have received our salaries,” said the angry worker.
Another worker added: “We work without any protective clothing and our union subscriptions and pensions are not up to date because the council is not paying us.
“Last year we had to take them to the Labour Court over salary increments and we won but they delayed paying us, we are now considering taking them back to the courts.”
Acting Town Clerk Mr Phillip Ndlovu declined to comment.
“We are still trying to manage things here so there is not much I can say. Rather we act on the matter than talk,” he said.
Online Reporter