Zesa suspends 132 workers over strike threat

a voluntary arbitration process this year.
The suspension, without pay and benefits, is with immediate effect.
Those suspended include the Zimbabwe Energy Workers’ Union president, Mrs Angelina Chitambo, and the association’s two national executive members — Tariro Shumba and Dennis Mukote.
The three addressed journalists in Harare last week and were suspended for “acting in common purpose and divulging confidential information about Zesa Holdings”.
The other workers, according to Zesa officials, heeded calls for a strike by the union and “refused to carry out work issued by supervisors”.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira yesterday said disciplinary action would be taken against the suspended worker for operating outside the power utility’s code of conduct.
“I can confirm that members of staff who engaged in the illegal job action have been suspended,” he said.
“Disciplinary action is being undertaken in accordance with the Code of Conduct governing the energy sector.”
The more than 7 000 Zesa workers and their management entered into salary negotiations in December last year that culminated in a signed Collective Bargaining Agreement on January 27 this year.
But management refused to honour the agreement before the two parties went for a voluntary arbitration process, which came out in favour of the workers.
The workers are demanding US$275 for the lowest paid employee, up from US$190, per month.
Zesa Holdings group chief executive officer Engineer Josh Chifamba two weeks ago wrote to the workers informing them that the company would not be able to pay them as it was in a “precarious financial position”.
According to a letter written to the workers by management, the workers should first attend a hearing before the company makes a decision.
“Following your refusal to carry out works issued to you by your supervisors on Tuesday July 10 2012, you are hereby suspended from work without pay and benefits with immediate effect pending disciplinary hearing,” reads the letter of suspension.
“During your period of suspension, you are not allowed to enter company premises without permission.”
ZEWU national organising secretary Mr Joseph Charlie said they would press on with their demands because they were legitimate.
“If it means they will suspend all workers because of those salaries, then let it be,” he said.
“There is no confidential information that our leadership divulged because the agreement was something public as it was gazetted by Statutory Instrument 50/2012.
“What worries us is that the suspension is open-ended and there is no date for the hearing. It means the workers will suffer more as there is no pay and benefits.”
Mr Charlie said the workers were being victimised.
“We will continue mobilising for the nationwide strike. We are happy with the solidarity we are getting from sister unions who subscribe to the same concept,” he said.
The workers, who are also calling for the ouster of Eng Chifamba, had threatened to switch off the country before going on strike if management failed to meet their demands within 24 hours. They only made a U-turn after Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana warned them that switching off the nation was tantamount to sabotage and attracts a heavy penalty.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions yesterday castigated Zesa management for referring a wage dispute with its workers to the National Employment Council.
In a statement last night, ZCTU secretary-general Mr Japhet Moyo said it was not plausible to refer a matter that would have been dealt with through voluntary arbitration to the NEC.
“The ZCTU stands in solidarity with the employees of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and its affiliate, the Zesa Technical Employees’ Association, following the refusal by Zesa management to implement the 2012 collective bargaining agreement,” said Mr Moyo.
“ZCTU also deplores the manner in which management at the power utility has been harassing trade union leadership as we understand trade union leaders from Zimbabwe Energy Workers’ Union, a former affiliate of ZCTU, have been suspended from work.”