Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Stop intimidating striking workers, Government told

Stop intimidating striking workers, Government told
Monday, June 8, 2009, 4:59 Economy

SOUTHERN province Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) chairman Collins Malambo has implored government to desist from threatening its workers and their union leaders at the district level.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr. Malambo said that workers and union leaders were facing threats from some government officials over their decision to participate in the on going strike action.

The SESTUZ chairman said that the situation was very unfortunate because government had taken so long to make a decision over the matter.

He said that workers in Southern province just like other parts of the country were very much grieved and felt cheated by government.

Mr. Malambo said in 2002 an agreement was signed to honor workers with the fixed band housing allowance which was an indication that government had the capacity provide decent accommodation for its workers.

He wondered why government was failing to meet its workers demands of improved conditions of services that included minimum salary increment of 25 percent and K450 000 housing allowance respectively.

He said government’s focus must not be on threatening union leaders who represent workers but bringing development and food on the tables of its workers.

“Government must realize that it has a mammoth responsibility and workers are ready to work hard and move the country forward with improved conditions of services that would motivate them,” he said.

He also denied having called for a country wide strike as reported in the media recently but said he was merely urging people to fight for their rightful demands.

Mr.Malambo said that calling for a country wide strike was not within his jurisdiction because he was chairman for SESTUZ in Southern province and not the whole country.

The Union official said he was merely responding to a situation where some workers in Livingstone complained that others continued working despite the resolutions being made at their meetings.

ZANIS

Labels: COLLINS MALAMBO, SESTUZ, STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 2:17 AM