Unpaid Harare workers threaten to down tools

Trade unions representing Harare City Council (HCC) employees have threatened industrial action after the local authority failed to pay workers' salaries, leaving many without income during the festive season and as schools prepare to open next week.

HCC employees, particularly those in grades 16 to seven, have not received their December salaries, with some also owed November pay and bonuses. The situation has angered workers, who say they are struggling to meet basic obligations such as rentals and school fees.

Trade unions representing the workers held a Press conference in Harare yesterday to express their frustration with the council's failure to honour agreed payment timelines. The Municipal Workers Union of Zimbabwe was represented by its president, Mr George Matongera, alongside representatives from the Water and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Allied Municipalities Workers Union and the Combined Municipalities Workers Union of Zimbabwe.

Mr Matongera said it was unacceptable that workers were allowed to go on holiday without receiving their salaries, despite prior agreements with management.

"We had agreed with our employers that all arrears should have been cleared by December 31, but they failed to do so," he said.

"The workers are owed salaries for November and December, as well as their bonus. They had Christmas and New Year without pay, yet they have rentals to pay and schools are about to open. Workers are demanding that the outstanding salaries be paid before schools open."

Water and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe representative, Mr Themba Musarurwa, said the situation was demoralising workers and eroding trust in union leadership.

"The workers are beginning to think that we, as union leaders, are in bed with the employer, which is not true," he said.

He added that the crisis was compounded by poor working conditions, citing reports of work-related deaths at HCC between October and December last year.

"We received several reports of workers dying due to a lack of protective clothing. People are dying at workplaces, yet they are not being paid. Employees are not happy, and this situation promotes theft at workplaces because workers are desperate," said Mr Musarurwa.

He called on Government to intervene to resolve the standoff.

Zimbabwe Allied Municipalities Workers Union representative, Mr Wilson Chokuda, also criticised HCC management, accusing senior officials of being insensitive to workers' struggles.

"How do you expect workers to pay rentals and school fees without salaries?" he said.

"What is painful is that council bosses are paid handsomely and live lavishly, while ordinary workers suffer."

In response, HCC head of corporate communications, Mr Stanley Gama, said the council was making progress in settling salary obligations.

"In terms of the US dollar component, we are up to date, and we have since started paying bonuses this week," he said.

He acknowledged challenges with the local currency component, citing outstanding debts owed to the council.

"Regarding the local currency, we are pushing very hard to pay the workers, as we are owed ZiG$9 billion by various stakeholders," said Mr Gama.

"It is our priority to clear the salary backlog this year. We are almost there, and we are doing well."

However, trade unions insist that unless salaries are paid promptly, workers may down tools, potentially disrupting council services as the new school term begins.