Civil servants in Zimbabwe have hinted at going on strike if salary negotiations with the Government do not resume this week.
The government offered civil servants a staggered 75 per cent pay rise when the two parties met on 12 March but the Pubic Service Association wants a 150 per cent pay hike which will see the least paid worker earn 30 thousand Zimbabwe dollars.
Meanwhile, several teachers’ unions, among them the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) are pushing for the restoration of their pre-October 2018 salaries of between US$520 and US$550 or the equivalent in the local currency.
Public Service Association president Cecilia Alexander told ZTN that they have notified the employer of their intention to go on a strike if the parties fail to meet this week. Alexander said:
Unfortunately, there has not been any communication from the Government to date and we are still waiting for them.
However, we served them with a letter notifying them that we will go on a strike if they do not act soon.
So if the worst comes to the worst then we will go the strike route. But we are willing to dialogue with them.
Therefore we are giving them up until the end of the week to act.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said that the talks will resume this week.
I instructed the secretariat last week to ensure that the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting is held this week. So I will make a follow up on the matter. But definitely, they should meet this week