CIVIL servants yesterday warned government that a
full-blown national strike was imminent if their employer fails to review its
decision to offer them a paltry $41 pay rise.
Civil servants who met yesterday under the Apex Council to
review Thursday’s outcome of the National Joint Negotiating Council indaba
resolved to reject the 10% salary increment offered by government and indicated
they would embark on a strike within the next 14 days.
“Herein agreed by the Apex council in a feedback meeting
held on January 11, 2019, the NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council) meeting
of 10 January 2019 is a nullity as an offer of $160 million translates to a
mere 10% salary increment, which falls far too short of our minimum demand and
expectation, which government is well aware of,” the Apex Council said in a
statement.
The stalemate will likely pile more pressure on President
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, which is already seeking to reduce its wage
bill, amid a worsening economic meltdown.
“While we await for the lapse of our 14-day notice to a
full blown industrial action, Apex council leadership will be visiting
sensitive offices to protest against the deteriorating situation,” the civil
servants body said.
The NJNC brings together government and civil servants staff
unions for negotiations of salaries and other working conditions.
On Monday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare acting
minister July Moyo met the restive government workers’ union leaders and
assured them that he would table an attractive offer at yesterday’s crunch
meeting.
The meeting came after teachers had threatened a crippling
industrial action when schools opened for the first term this week, amid
reports that some teachers were yet to report for duty since opening day on
Tuesday.
The Apex Council said government indicated that it could
not meet its workers’ demands because it was working under a tilted economic
landscape.
The strike warning came after the Zimbabwe Nurses’
Association (Zina) yesterday said that its membership could no longer guarantee
reporting for duty following the paltry 10% pay rise, which they said was a
“mockery” to the services they provide.
Zina president Enock Dongo said nurses were now
incapacitated to report for duty, especially with the recent hike in transport
fares. He said they would not take the 10% salary increment offered by
government.
Commuter omnibus fares have trebled in less than two
months. Those who stay in Chitungwiza and work at Parirenyatwa Group of
Hospitals have to fork out $3 to get into town and an extra $1,50 for the rest
of the journey.
“As nurses, we are so incapacitated and the government
cannot seriously offer us a mere 10% rise. It is also important to note that
during these past months, nurses never considered downing tools,” he said.
Dongo said what was infuriating was the fact that the
increment would only be effected in April.
“So what happens between now and then? How will our members
be cushioned from this harsh economic environment? The government has no plan
to solve this impasse. We are in the dark in as far as what the government
intends to do to alleviate our suffering,” he said.
The nurses are on rotational duty and come to work two days
per week, but Dongo said the shifts, done to mitigate against the economic
woes, including transport, have not been helpful.
“Clearly, this strategy is not working. The nurses need to
eat and also look after their families. How are they expected to perform their
duties when they are not settled psychologically?” he asked.
The Apex Council is demanding at least $1 733 for the least
paid worker, but government, which is firefighting a bloated wage bill, dug its
feet in and offered a “paltry” 10% salary increment.
“We urge government to engage us and make a serious offer.
Our members will soon be finding it difficult to continue subsidising
government by reporting for work using resources sourced from elsewhere,” Dongo
said.
He said the situation needed to be dealt with urgently to
alleviate the crisis, adding that the health sector could not possibly take
another knock after the 40-day strike by the junior doctors.
In a statement yesterday, Public Service Commission chairperson
Vincent Hungwe said government was ready to engage with its workers to find a
solution to their challenges.
“For its part, government remains fully committed to
mobilising resources to improve the livelihoods and conditions of service for
its employees,” he said.
The State said it would be meeting the workers again next
week to deal with their demands. Newsday
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