Civil service strike looms

Kudzai Bare, Staff Reporter

DISGRUNTLED civil servants have warned the cash-starved government to brace for another crippling industrial action after Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, failed to make provisions for a salary increment in his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy review. In his review statement last week, Biti again admitted the unity government was technically broke as donors were reluctant to loosen their purse strings and as such the coalition was in no position to award civil servants salary increments.
The country’s wage bill is currently estimated to be around US$50,1 million per month. This week the chief executive officer of the Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Manuel Nyawo, warned government to prepare for a possible job action as workers protest its failure to attend to their plight.
“We waited patiently for the budget presentation, hoping they would address the plight of civil servants only to realise that it was crafted by politicians who are not concerned about the ordinary workers,” Nyawo said.
“We are disappointed, so, right now we are consulting our members who are obviously angry, about the way forward. The government should prepare for civil unrest,” he said.
Sifiso Ndlovu, the chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, echoed the same sentiments.
“There was need for engagement through representative structures and union leaders. We wonder if educators have any role to play in these issues,” Ndlovu said.
“We were coming from a promising workshop in Kariba, so, we were expecting the Finance Minister to take on board some of the recommendations made, but they were just empty promises. We feel betrayed.”
“We are going to engage other unions, but we will not be surprised if teachers react angrily to this,” he said.
The civil servants who earlier this year went on a strike for higher wages which fizzled out in March, are earning an average of US$200 per month.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the umbrella labour body, has also alerted its members to prepare for a “fierce” clash with government over what it views as an anti-poor National Budget.

Comments (12) Add Comment

Show/Hide comments

...
written by chatikobo, July 30, 2010

Batsiraiwo ma civil servant please!They are just being used for cheap politics. Its regrettable that some civil servants in some ministries manned by members of the inclusive govt are getting incentives at the expense of others. We know donor money is channelled through their Ministries for certain endless projects that benefit no one. Is this the government we want or the type of pple we want to govern us promoting the very system that we are fed up of, system of divide and rule and they call them national leaders! Van Satan! Magumira muinclusive imomu some of you!

...
written by munhu, July 29, 2010

An industrial action may not necessarily be the most preferred option but it the language most employers choose to hear. But as for now let it wait. As soon as we start receiving something from the sale of diamonds let the employer not forget those who have broken their backs for the country to stay on course, ie, the civil servants.

...
written by Yangu it*aona, July 28, 2010

Civil servants deserve a better deal. Strike is reasonable however bringing everything to a standstill may not be necessarily the best method to show discontent as it may be contrary to some professional pledges. It is also important for those in governance to realise that someone on strike should not be paid. You are paid for work done.
As I am writing members of the union I have joined and me, in one of the developed countries I am working in are striking. Normal core work is progressing but some things deemed non-core we are not doing. The idea being message will be delivered at the same time progress is not interrupted. This is a developed nation I am talking about. Does Zimbabwe an underdeveloped nation have the time to worst for its future generations? I am a former civil servant and concur in toto with their plight. However before putting this strike to realm civil servants may need to consider the plight of the unborn child. Or do we want to kill them before they grow?

...
written by ......, July 28, 2010

all i know is i don't eat patriotism on my table, i am only here because xenophobia yakabata...... i hate working for peanuts, i hate being the sacrificial lamb because the little education i got i paid an arm and two legs for....instead of pushing to preserve their political influence, to preserve power, its about time they sacrificed themselves for the ordinary man if they really cared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...
written by zulu, July 27, 2010

The union comment is out of order as they are not only destroying the teachers but the country.can they tell me when their socalled strikes have been effective?After everystrike the teachers came out worse off and the students suffered.The education standards have been negatively affected by these strikes making the teachers worthless.Most institutions now look down upon anyone from Zim who got educated after 2002.Can they tell us if level of confidence in teaching profession has gone up.What have they done differently for the good that warrants a salary increment.What is on the agenda to bring back the profession to be the profession of choice?if I do remember very well all what these guys have been asking for is money,money money and money.Masiyananeyi nemahure?If I was in charge I would lock you up and through awy the keys in Zambezi river.get a life and start working for the development of the teaching profession you twarts.

...
written by macjim frank, bulawayo, July 27, 2010

these unions that pretends to represent the interest of the workers are the m*re dangerous! lets unsubscribe to them immediately.

...
written by Progressive Citizen, July 26, 2010

REMEMBER JOBS WERE LOST BECOZ OF CONTINUED STRIKES BY ZCTU. VARIPI VANHU VAISHANDISIWA? DON'T SHOT YOURSELF ON THE FOOT. LETS BUILD OUR COUNTRY.

...
written by Big Up Enlightened Educator, July 26, 2010

Enough is enough with these unions, LET'S US ALL CEASES THESE CONTRIBUTION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. JUST WRITE A NOTE TO THE EFFECT TO SSB FOR CEASATION. NGATINGWAREWO MATEACHERS. kWATABVA KWAA KURE TICHINGODYIRWA MARI. STOP THE ROT.

...
written by Enlightened Educatior, July 26, 2010

To my fellow collegues in the education sectors, do not continue to be used by these so called unions. What they are playing at now is what is called union politics. Take note: Zimta has a membership of about 50000, each member contributes US$6-00, simple mathematics will tell you that, it equal to US$300 000-00. If such a union has the interest of teachers at heart, and knowing full well that we are starting to recover, it could invest the money for the teacher instead of enjoying the money with their families. Vana vavo vanodzidza kuzvikoro zvin*bhadharwa ma incentives to the teacher, saka won't be affected. IF THE YOU KNOWS THE SALARY IS INSIGNIFICANT THEN IT SHOULD NOT ROB, AND SHOULD STOP ROBBING THE TEACHER. NGWARAI MATICHA.

...
written by Ndakunzwa, July 26, 2010

Shut up Mutauri. Whom do you speak for?

...
written by Mutauri Mashoko, July 25, 2010

Rising from a collapsed economy is not a one day event but takes some ages under regulated modalities. It cannot be random, abrupt or rosy but a step by step process which no single branch of the economy tree may demand special attention. Foremost, where do they expect the money to come from?