News / National
Zimbabwe civil servants to go on strike next Thursday
13 Jan 2012 at 06:40hrs | Views
CIVIL servants have resolved to go on strike next Thursday if their salaries are not increased.
The Apex council on Wednesday met Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga, but nothing materialised.
The workers are demanding a minimum salary of US$538 per month.
Apex Council chairperson Mrs Tendai Chikowore said Minister Matibenga told them that she was taking their grievances to principals in the inclusive Government.
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara are the principals.
Apex council brings together the Public Service Association, Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
Another meeting between the workers and Minister Matibenga is scheduled for Tuesday.
Mrs Chikowore, who is also Zimta president, said they will be mobilising their members for the strike while waiting for Government's response.
PSA executive secretary Mr Emmanuel Tichareva and TUZ chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo said their members were already prepared for the industrial action.
"Minister Matibenga almost cried during deliberations but that is not going to stop us from demanding what is due to us.
"We wanted to sleep in her offices to demonstrate how serious we are before she pleaded with us to understand her," Mr Nyawo said.
The workers have already given Government the list of demands they want urgently addressed.
Government has always argued that it does not have enough money to award a salary increment.
The last salary increment was in July last year when civil servants got an average of US$100 increase.
The increment left the lowest-paid Government worker earning US$253 from US$128.
The civil servants were not satisfied with the new salaries below the poverty datum line.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti did not provide for any civil service salaries increase in his the 2012 national budget.
Efforts to get a comment from Minister Matibenga were fruitless, as her mobile phone was not reachable.
The Apex council on Wednesday met Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga, but nothing materialised.
The workers are demanding a minimum salary of US$538 per month.
Apex Council chairperson Mrs Tendai Chikowore said Minister Matibenga told them that she was taking their grievances to principals in the inclusive Government.
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara are the principals.
Apex council brings together the Public Service Association, Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
Another meeting between the workers and Minister Matibenga is scheduled for Tuesday.
Mrs Chikowore, who is also Zimta president, said they will be mobilising their members for the strike while waiting for Government's response.
"Minister Matibenga almost cried during deliberations but that is not going to stop us from demanding what is due to us.
"We wanted to sleep in her offices to demonstrate how serious we are before she pleaded with us to understand her," Mr Nyawo said.
The workers have already given Government the list of demands they want urgently addressed.
Government has always argued that it does not have enough money to award a salary increment.
The last salary increment was in July last year when civil servants got an average of US$100 increase.
The increment left the lowest-paid Government worker earning US$253 from US$128.
The civil servants were not satisfied with the new salaries below the poverty datum line.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti did not provide for any civil service salaries increase in his the 2012 national budget.
Efforts to get a comment from Minister Matibenga were fruitless, as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Source - TH
