Take looming strike seriously, ZCTU appeals to Rupiah

Take looming strike seriously, ZCTU appeals to Rupiah
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe, Enerst Chanda and Isaac Zulu
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:42:28 PM

ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to take the issue of the looming strike of various workers seriously before it turns into a national strike.

Commenting on the looming strike by teachers and health workers in some parts of the country, Mwaba said the stance taken by the government in dragging its feet in the process of bargaining was not healthy for the nation.

He said the country was going through a financial recession and it was important that every productive sector was working to combat the financial crisis.

“Every manpower lost contributes to worsening the situation. If you look at the demands of the workers, it is all salary related. The government should hasten the negotiations. It is cheaper to prevent a national strike than deal with the aftermath,” he said.

Mwaba said the government was going to lose a lot of resources if the strike went national.

He said it was important that President Banda intervened in the matter because the situation was now above permanent secretaries.

“Every time we want to bargain, the permanent secretaries say that they have to consult the principle and the Ministry of Finance. They have to come in and ensure that they prevent a national strike,” said Mwaba.

Meanwhile, former Chilanga UPND member of parliament Captain Cosmas Moono has fully supported striking civil servants in Livingstone.

Capt Moono said the civil servants’ action to go on strike last week was justified by government’s decision to turn a deaf ear to their plight.

Capt Moono also accused Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe of ignoring problems in the province and concentrating on politicking.

“Just recently, we had cholera in Southern Province in the dry season. And that is the province which Hakayobe and [provincial minister Daniel Munkombwe] preside over. This is an indication that the two gentlemen have failed…,” said Capt Moono.

Last week, some civil servants in Livingstone resolved to go on strike demanding payment of their rural hardship allowances, salary increments and improved conditions of service.

And teachers in Kapiri Mposhi have also gone on an indefinite strike, joining their counterparts in other districts.

During their meeting held at Lukanda Basic School on Friday, the three teachers unions unanimously resolved to go on strike, demanding payment of their rural hardship allowances and not less than 25 per cent salary increment from the government.

In a statement issued by Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ)and Secondary Education Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) , teachers in the district were also demanding payment of fixed band allowances and outstanding housing allowances.