News / National
Some civil servants ignore call to strike
06 Jul 2016 at 06:38hrs | Views
THE civil servants' strike that was slated to start yesterday over delayed June salaries flopped in many parts of the country.
In Bulawayo, it was business as usual as teachers turned up for work at most schools. But some pupils stayed away from a few schools that include Founders High and Insukamini primary. Some doctors and nurses did not report for work.
A Chronicle news crew visited United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) yesterday at 10AM and observed that most qualified nurses were not attending to patients.
Nurses who spoke to the news crew at the hospitals said they were not attending to patients in terms of the commitment they made to other civil servants.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association national organising secretary Mugove Chipfurutse said the strike had begun at most health institutions.
"There's nothing we can do. The strike is based on that people have no money to go to work because the money they were given was all chewed up by bank loans," said Mr Chipfurutse.
In Masvingo the situation was normal as civil servants ignored the call for industrial action.
Most schools conducted lessons, save for Hellen McGhie Government Primary School. The Chronicle established that pupils at the school were ordered to go back home as early as 9AM as teachers protested against the Government's failure to pay their June salaries. The school head Mr Hebert Zengeya could not be reached for comment.
Late yesterday there was a heavy police presence in the city apparently to thwart any attempt to cause violence.
Deputy provincial education director, Mr Andrew Chikwange referred all questions to his boss, Mr Zadius Chitiga who could not be reached as his phone was continuously ringing.
In Victoria Falls, The Chronicle office was awash with inquiries from residents and some people from as far as Binga, Hwange and Lupane who wanted to know if the strike would genuinely take place.
Mkhosana Adventist School in Victoria Falls sent pupils on an "exit week" starting Monday while other schools in the town operated normally.
However, in the surrounding rural areas some schools sent children back home yesterday while others told them on dismissal that they would be advised by their parents what to do today.
There were notices pasted on walls and trees calling on people to remain at home today.
In Gwanda there was no stay away. The situation was tense in the morning and police officers were deployed at strategic positions such as government complexes, filling stations and shopping malls.
However, the day progressed without incident.
Most government departments were operating as normal. The Gwanda provincial hospital and clinics were offering their services to patients without hindrance.
Even pupils attended school and knocked off at the normal time. The situation in the CBD eased up and most of the police officers that were milling around later left.
Teachers in schools around Beitbridge district went on strike over the delay by government to pay their salaries on time.
Teachers in the urban area said they had received circulars from their unions including Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Apex Council ordering them to stay away from work between yesterday and tomorrow.
School heads at some of the schools remained on duty with a few teachers who are employed by the school development committees.
Church-run schools that include St Joseph's Primary and St Mary's Secondary School ignored the strike.
Meanwhile, civil servants have distanced themselves from unruly elements that want to cause mayhem and disorder in the country saying their industrial action was driven by a labour dispute and is non-political.
In a statement yesterday the Apex Council president Mrs Cecelia Alexander said their strike was driven by the Government's failure to pay them their June salaries on time.
The civil servants were yesterday supposed to start a three day strike which is expected to end on Friday.
"The Apex Council hereby informs the employer and the nation that the current civil service job action is completely non-political and non-partisan and should in no way be associated with the calls by other political and social groups whose agendas have nothing to do with our labour dispute with government," said Mrs Alexander.
She said civil servants should stay at home and not partake in violence.
"May it also be noted that civil servants are staying at home, not in the streets as a result of incapacitation. The Apex Council regrets the coincidence in timing. Our action will run its full course as advised up to the 7th of July," she said.
Other pupils were reportedly told on Monday not to come to school yesterday.
Zimta president Mr Richard Gundane said teachers were staying away for three days as they are incapacitated to go to work.
"Teachers have started a three day stay away from work. The educators are incapacitated they can't be in school because they have no money to be going to work, there's no food and they may be evicted from their lodgings," said Mr Gundane.
In Bulawayo, it was business as usual as teachers turned up for work at most schools. But some pupils stayed away from a few schools that include Founders High and Insukamini primary. Some doctors and nurses did not report for work.
A Chronicle news crew visited United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) yesterday at 10AM and observed that most qualified nurses were not attending to patients.
Nurses who spoke to the news crew at the hospitals said they were not attending to patients in terms of the commitment they made to other civil servants.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association national organising secretary Mugove Chipfurutse said the strike had begun at most health institutions.
"There's nothing we can do. The strike is based on that people have no money to go to work because the money they were given was all chewed up by bank loans," said Mr Chipfurutse.
In Masvingo the situation was normal as civil servants ignored the call for industrial action.
Most schools conducted lessons, save for Hellen McGhie Government Primary School. The Chronicle established that pupils at the school were ordered to go back home as early as 9AM as teachers protested against the Government's failure to pay their June salaries. The school head Mr Hebert Zengeya could not be reached for comment.
Late yesterday there was a heavy police presence in the city apparently to thwart any attempt to cause violence.
Deputy provincial education director, Mr Andrew Chikwange referred all questions to his boss, Mr Zadius Chitiga who could not be reached as his phone was continuously ringing.
In Victoria Falls, The Chronicle office was awash with inquiries from residents and some people from as far as Binga, Hwange and Lupane who wanted to know if the strike would genuinely take place.
Mkhosana Adventist School in Victoria Falls sent pupils on an "exit week" starting Monday while other schools in the town operated normally.
However, in the surrounding rural areas some schools sent children back home yesterday while others told them on dismissal that they would be advised by their parents what to do today.
There were notices pasted on walls and trees calling on people to remain at home today.
In Gwanda there was no stay away. The situation was tense in the morning and police officers were deployed at strategic positions such as government complexes, filling stations and shopping malls.
Most government departments were operating as normal. The Gwanda provincial hospital and clinics were offering their services to patients without hindrance.
Even pupils attended school and knocked off at the normal time. The situation in the CBD eased up and most of the police officers that were milling around later left.
Teachers in schools around Beitbridge district went on strike over the delay by government to pay their salaries on time.
Teachers in the urban area said they had received circulars from their unions including Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Apex Council ordering them to stay away from work between yesterday and tomorrow.
School heads at some of the schools remained on duty with a few teachers who are employed by the school development committees.
Church-run schools that include St Joseph's Primary and St Mary's Secondary School ignored the strike.
Meanwhile, civil servants have distanced themselves from unruly elements that want to cause mayhem and disorder in the country saying their industrial action was driven by a labour dispute and is non-political.
In a statement yesterday the Apex Council president Mrs Cecelia Alexander said their strike was driven by the Government's failure to pay them their June salaries on time.
The civil servants were yesterday supposed to start a three day strike which is expected to end on Friday.
"The Apex Council hereby informs the employer and the nation that the current civil service job action is completely non-political and non-partisan and should in no way be associated with the calls by other political and social groups whose agendas have nothing to do with our labour dispute with government," said Mrs Alexander.
She said civil servants should stay at home and not partake in violence.
"May it also be noted that civil servants are staying at home, not in the streets as a result of incapacitation. The Apex Council regrets the coincidence in timing. Our action will run its full course as advised up to the 7th of July," she said.
Other pupils were reportedly told on Monday not to come to school yesterday.
Zimta president Mr Richard Gundane said teachers were staying away for three days as they are incapacitated to go to work.
"Teachers have started a three day stay away from work. The educators are incapacitated they can't be in school because they have no money to be going to work, there's no food and they may be evicted from their lodgings," said Mr Gundane.
Source - chronicle
