Civil servants in new round of salary talks

GOVERNMENT yesterday appealed to unions representing civil servants to shun divisions and instead come to the negotiating table united to review salaries and improve working conditions.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche, in a statement said that it was impossible for Government to engage the workers in salary negotiations as their representatives were not in agreement.

He said union leaders were dishonest as they continued to submit different lists of negotiators.

"The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has noted that lately the media has not been giving a fair view of the issue of civil service negotiations," said Minister Goche.

"The perception portrayed is that Government is reneging on its commitment to the negotiating process."

Minister Goche said on October 3, he met the heads of staff associations and urged them to properly constitute the Apex Council, the body that represents civil servants in salary negotiations, for the discussions to start.

Government negotiators that the minister appointed in terms of Section 3(2)(a) of the Constitution were ready for negotiations.

According to Statutory Instrument 141 of 1997, civil service unions are supposed to submit names of nine representatives to the National Joint Negotiating Council.

"However, since that meeting there has not been any progress in terms of workers' representation," Minister Goche said.

"During the meeting with the Minister, the workers promised to submit an agreed list of negotiators as a matter of urgency. In this regard on October 22 the workers met and produced a list of negotiators which was submitted to the Minister."

Minister Goche said the following day, the College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr David Dzatsunga submitted another list purporting to represent the Apex Council.

"It is also interesting to note that the President of COLAZ was co-chairing the October 22 meeting which came up with the first list," Minister Goche said.

"The submission of the two different lists by the workers shows that the workers are not in agreement and therefore, it is impossible for Government to convene a National Joint Negotiating Council meeting with a divided workers' representation."

The NJNC is a negotiating platform that brings together workers and Government negotiators.

Minister Goche said following the two  submissions, on November 6, the Ministry further advised the workers to produce an agreed list of negotiators, which they have not done to date.

"On 12 November, a list of negotiators was submitted," he said.

"The list was confirming the 23 October resolution which was submitted by a team led by Mr Dzatsunga. Instead, Mr Dzatsunga submitted yet another list, a sign of continued dispute."

Minister Goche said Government was more than willing to negotiate with the workers in a properly constituted NJNC.

"This can only be achieved if the workers meet their part of the bargain," Minister Goche said. "As soon as the workers properly constitute the Apex Council, Government will meet them. The Minister has an open door policy and has continued to talk to the associations despite their divisions."

Minister Goche said Government was committed to meeting the workers for the review of their salaries and other working conditions in line with the Zanu-PF election manifesto and the President Mugabe's speeches during inauguration and opening of Parliament.

The Zanu-PF Politburo has resolved that the least-paid civil servant should get a salary above the Poverty Datum Line when an increment expected in January is effected.

The PDL - which is the consumer basket for a family of six - stands at $540 per month according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and that is the benchmark civil service unions were pressing for.

The lowest paid Government worker is getting $297.