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NRZ workers beg management to fire striking workers
27 May 2016 at 17:54hrs | Views
The two month long National Railways of Zimbabwe strike has divided workers with one Union begging management to immediately fire striking workers, Bulawayo24.com heard on Friday evening.
Workers downed tools on March 29 after going unpaid for 15 months.
Officials revealed this week that the parastatal is losing $250,000 a day in potential revenue.
About $14 million has been lost as its workers continue their strike over unpaid wages. Today, insiders said on Thursday, management intended to have a joint meeting with union leaders representing non striking and striking workers.
However, non striking worker representatives refused, forcing management to have separate meetings.
"NRZ board chairman Mr Larry Mavhima invited the striking employees and the Trade unions but the union for non striking workers refused to be in the same meeting with the striking workers representatives .This resulted in two separate meetings with the board chair yesterday in Bulawayo," said an insider.
"However in the meeting between management and Trade Union leaders, NRZ trade unionist (non striking representatives) advised the NRZ management to fire all striking workers," Added the insider.
"The board chair acknowledged the striking workers plight and promised to resolute the impasse .Employees are happy that the board chair gave the striking employees a listening ear."
Asked why non striking worker representatives refused a joint meeting, the insider said "They fear that the striking employees committee is now a threat to their union positions".
Meanwhile, today NRZ paid non striking workers who are on sub grades A1-B4 with the promise of paying all non striking employees by Tuesday .
Workers downed tools on March 29 after going unpaid for 15 months.
Officials revealed this week that the parastatal is losing $250,000 a day in potential revenue.
About $14 million has been lost as its workers continue their strike over unpaid wages. Today, insiders said on Thursday, management intended to have a joint meeting with union leaders representing non striking and striking workers.
However, non striking worker representatives refused, forcing management to have separate meetings.
"NRZ board chairman Mr Larry Mavhima invited the striking employees and the Trade unions but the union for non striking workers refused to be in the same meeting with the striking workers representatives .This resulted in two separate meetings with the board chair yesterday in Bulawayo," said an insider.
"However in the meeting between management and Trade Union leaders, NRZ trade unionist (non striking representatives) advised the NRZ management to fire all striking workers," Added the insider.
"The board chair acknowledged the striking workers plight and promised to resolute the impasse .Employees are happy that the board chair gave the striking employees a listening ear."
Asked why non striking worker representatives refused a joint meeting, the insider said "They fear that the striking employees committee is now a threat to their union positions".
Meanwhile, today NRZ paid non striking workers who are on sub grades A1-B4 with the promise of paying all non striking employees by Tuesday .
Source - Byo24News
