Curbing the mushrooming of splinter unions
Thu 17 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
The discourse between Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba and labour minister Fackson Shamenda over splinter unions provokes laughter. Hikaumba is asking the government to help in curbing the mushrooming of splinter unions as they undermine oneness.
But Shamenda's response is that the forming of splinter unions will not stop as long as there is no leadership provided by ZCTU. And he says that the government is not going to regulate anything, but that ZCTU could solve the problem by being relevant and accountable to their members.
We all know that the current legislation that allows for the proliferation of trade unions was a product of the MMD. Before that, ZCTU was protected and enjoyed the monopoly of being the sole representative of all Zambian workers. What is Hikaumba asking for? What does he want the government to do to curb the mushrooming of splinter unions? Does he want the government to legislate against splinter unions? But the government says it won't regulate that because that is not the problem. The government says the problem of splinter unions is a product of poor, irrelevant and unaccountable trade union leadership.
No one has forced the labour movement to fragment or proliferate. Yes, there is a law that allows for pluralism in trade unions, splinter unions. But that law does not make it mandatory for trade unions to proliferate and to fragment. It is the workers and their leaders who choose to proliferate and fragment.
We have consistently questioned the wisdom of having more than one union in an industry and even of having one confederation in the country. This is a small country, with a small economy and workforce. The numbers of workers in our small industries are also very small. Fragmentation of these small number of workers through the proliferation of trade unions does not in any way strengthen workers' representation. It instead weakens it. This fact is well known to all our trade unionists and their members and they have repeatedly raised concern over this issue.
But if this fact is well known, why are we still seeing so many trade unions being formed in one industry by workers and their leaders? If this is a very well known fact, why do we still have more than one trade union confederation in one country? There can only be one explanation and that explanation is the one given by Shamenda: the presence of an irrelevant and unaccountable trade union leadership; the absence of leadership provided by ZCTU.
Truly, there can only be one explanation for this: selfishness, greed and vanity. There are trade union leaders who don't care much about the plight of the workers, who care much about their own positions. And Hikaumba should ask himself why he should continue being at the helm of ZCTU when he has failed to unite the workers, curb splinter unions and strengthen the labour movement. Hikaumba has been at the helm of ZCTU for many years now, what has he done, what is he doing to strengthen the labour movement? Can Hikaumba explain and justify his continued leadership of ZCTU in the current situation and circumstances?
Hikaumba is talking about curbing splinter unions without explaining why the situation is what it is. Why? Is it because it will expose his leadership deficiencies?
The truth is Hikaumba has failed to unite the workers of Zambia both within ZCTU and outside ZCTU.
But why are workers allowing themselves to be led by the current crop of trade union leadership which is simply out to benefit itself at their own expense?
We all know that unity and solidarity make strength. And probably that is why ZCTU sloganeers about solidarity and has named its headquarters Solidarity House. But what solidarity is ZCTU championing?
We all know that while this universal truth - unity and solidarity make strength - is not relevant to the trade union movement alone, no other institution depends on it more than the trade unions and nobody can gain more from it than the working people. The capacity of workers to negotiate, promote and defend their rights and conditions depends to a large extent on their opportunity and ability to act collectively. Divisions and scattering of this collective strength weakens their position towards their employers and reduces the possibility that trade unions will represent workers' interests in an optimal way, be it at the level of enterprise or professional sector or within the framework of the socio-economic institutions of our country.
What we have said about ZCTU and Hikaumba also equally applies to the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia and its leader Joyce Nonde-Simukoko. They have both failed to unite the workers of Zambia and increase their capacity to negotiate with their employers for more progressive or better conditions of service.
All acknowledge that one of the major weaknesses of our trade union movement today is lack of unity. The proliferation and fragmentation of trade unions over the last two decades has badly undermined the efficiency, effectiveness, representativeness and credibility of our trade unions. Today we have two trade union confederations in the country - ZCTU and FFTUZ - competing with each other, to the sole benefit of the opponents of the workers' welfare. For what? In whose interest?
There is need for our trade unions to start playing an indispensable role as guardians of workers' rights and conditions. They are not doing so well on this score today. To play this role well, unity and coherence in trade union policies and solidarity and mutual support will be more essential than ever.
The random creation of unrepresentative and ineffective unions has become the cause of divisions, confusion and abuse of trade union scene in our country. With good leadership, this problem can be minimised. A critical look at the reasons for this proliferation and fragmentation of trade unions will always reveal that they are rarely inspired by the true principles of freedom of association and trade union pluralism. They rather find their origins in the multiplicity of factors of distorted political, historic, legal or economic nature, or may be a consequence of the selfish ambitions of certain trade union leaders.
Trade union unity - both in action and in structures - should be the most urgent priority for the trade union movement in our country if its wants to be truly of value to the workers and to preserve or restore its credibility for the future. And only those who are capable of uniting our workers and their unions should lead the labour movement. This is the criterion on which trade union leadership should be weighed and judged. Only those who can increase unity should stay in the ranks of our trade union leadership.
Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, TRADE UNI0NS
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COMMENT - Glencore International PLC is world renowned for it's tax evasion. Glencore, called the Goldman Sachs of commodities because of it's ruthless business practices, is even
headquartered in Switzerland. How obvious do they need to be? They even have Tony Hayward of BP who is now a senior non-executive director at Glencore (see 4). For more information on Glencore's activities, read:
1)
Mopani pilot audit reveals tax payment irregularities
Thursday, February 10, 2011, 8:48
2)
GLENCORE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: PROFIT BEFORE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
3)
WBAI AfrobeatRadio, 06.09.2012
Glencore International's exploitation of child mining labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aired on AfrobeatRadio, on WBAI, 99.5 FM, New York City, wbai.org.
3)
Contracts, human rights and taxation: How a company exploits a country
The case of Glencore in the DRC - Study written by Chantal Peyer in collaboration with Yvan Maillard (Bread for All); Fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of Congo led by Freek Cronje, Jean-Didier Losamgo Nzinga, Vidette Bester and David van Wyk (Bench Marks Foundation)
4)
(DAILY MAIL UK) Greed Inc: A special investigation into pollution, dubious tax practices and exploitation of African workers at Glencore
Seal tax loopholes, Saasa urges Govt
December 21, 2012
By KAIKO NAMUSA and MAYA NTANDA -
ECONOMIST Oliver Saasa has said revelations that K40 trillion was siphoned out of Zambia reflects serious lapses in the tax system which the current Government should urgently address.
And the Zambia Congress of Trade of Unions (ZCTU) says the loss of the K40 trillion between 2000 and 2010 was evidence of a failed tax monitoring system under the MMD administration which the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership should immediately address.
Professor Saasa said in Lusaka yesterday that the country had continued to lose huge amounts of money through tax evasion and corruption.
He said the Government should seal all the loopholes, especially in the mining sector.
“This is a wake-up call for the PF Government to institute measures to overhaul our fiscal tax regime. There is no need to lose trillions,” he said in an interview.
Prof Saasa hailed the pronouncement by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda that the matter would be probed.
ZCTU leader Leonard Hikaumba echoed similar concerns on the need to curb tax evasion as evidenced through the revelation by the Washington-based Global Financial Integrity in its report.
Meanwhile, Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has indicated that all taxes, royalties and other dues to the Zambian Government are paid in line with the country’s legislation.
The mining company is audited annually by Deloitte and its accounts have always been given a clean bill of health and kept at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This is contained in the April 2012 submissions by Glencore International Plc, the major shareholders of MCM and made available to the Times in Kitwe yesterday by MCM head of communications and public relations, Cephas Sinyangwe.
“Mopani is convinced that the taxes, royalties and other dues to the Government have always been calculated and paid in the proper manner in line with the applicable legislation,” read the submissions in part.
Labels: GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL AG, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MOPANI, OLIVER SAASA, PF, TAX EVASION, WINDFALL TAX
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ZCTU Monze wants Hikaumba, Mwaba out
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 29 Nov. 2011, 13:20 CAT
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions members need to clean up all corners of the congress by removing all ineffective leaders, says the Monze branch. ZCTU members in the Southern Province town have joined growing calls for ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba and secretary general Roy Mwaba to resign.
ZCTU Monze chairperson Foster Matakala and secretary Rays Mwansa in a jointly signed statement described the union mother body as "non-functional" despite its affiliates contributing a lot of money monthly.
The statement was a resolution of the minutes of the ZCTU meeting recently held in Monze
"The leadership has given ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba and Secretary General Roy Mwaba to resign because they are a sellout to the workers," according to the e-mailed statement.
"They don't represent any worker but themselves and their families. Hikaumba and Roy Mwaba used to dine with MMD officials at the expense of bargaining for good conditions of service and better salaries for the workers."
ZCTU Monze also stated that Mwaba and Hikaumba should not be part of the negotiating team for next year's collective agreement.
"What can they negotiate for when they are getting hefty salaries and allowances when the majority of the workers have lived in poverty?" wondered the union officials.
"They were campaigning for MMD in the 2011 general elections and the PF government has kept quiet on the issue of union leadership campaigning for a political party when they are supposed to remain neutral."
The Monze workers stated that ZCTU was even failing to rent offices in districts when it had a lot of money from the affiliates.
"The union in the past five years has not been representing its membership because the leaders only wanted to fatten their pockets," they charged.
"We request the government to consider opening negotiations. Let the government look into the plight of the workers by giving them a good deal," stated ZCTU Monze.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MONZE, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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Zambia expect PF to deliver on its promises-Dora SIliya
TIME PUBLISHED - Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8:00 am
Opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya yesterday said that the people of Zambia are expectant of the Patriotic Front Government to deliver on its promises. Ms. Siliya said that as a responsible opposition political party, the MMD will ensure that the PF government delivers on the promises it has made to the people of Zambia.
Commenting on President Michael Sata’s speech to parliament yesterday, Ms. Siliya said the MMD was looking forward to hear from the president his government’s plans for the mining sector.
She said that the party also expected the President to comment on the labour matters. Ms. Siliya said that the MMD will this weekend sit and analyze the speech of the President so that they can prepare themselves for the next sitting of parliament.
She said that the party will ensure that it makes responsible contributions in parliament in questioning certain pronouncements made by the President.
MMD Mwandi member of Parliament Michael Kaingu said most of President Sata’s pronouncements are not very different from the way his party used to run Government.
Mr Kaingu, however, pledged to work with the Patriotic Front government on progressive national issues. “The success of Government is the success of everyone and we want to share in the success. We will give the government as much support as possible as long as what the government will be doing is not obnoxious,” Mr Kaingu said.
And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has hailed President Sata’s speech. ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said in an interview yesterday that the President’s speech highlighted a number of important issues affecting many Zambians.
“Of special interests to us as workers is the issue of what it means to classify Zambia as a middle-income country. We think that this classification should translate into improvement of people’s lives,” Mr Hikaumba said.
Mr Hikaumba praised Mr Sata’s emphasis on employment creation, especially for young people who have skills but cannot find jobs. He said the President must ensure that more employment opportunities are created and provide an environment where the youth can be self-employed.
“Of special interests to us as workers is the issue of what it means to classify Zambia as a middle-income country. We think that this classification should translate into improvement of people’s lives,” Mr Hikaumba said.
“I think in this way we shall tackle the issue of high levels of unemployment,” he said. Mr Hikaumba further welcomed Mr Sata’s emphasis on reviewing social protection strategies, noting that most retirees either die before getting their benefits or get insufficient retirement packages.
“The indication that the social protection strategies will be reviewed is a good approach. We would like to see a situation where people will belooking forward to retiring because like that they will not end up destitute as has been the case in the past,” he said.
Mr Hikaumba said the labour movement also wanted to hear something about mining from the President but this was missing in his speech.
“We also wanted to hear something on the media because there has been quite a lot of talk on freedom of information. We thought it was going to come out strongly in the speech, but it was missing…we hope that even with the absence of these issues in the Presidential speech, they will still be attended to. We hope the national development plan will be revised and since these issues are there in the development plan, they will be given attention. We think these issues highlighted provide a good framework from where the new government can make its foundation in the developmental process,” he said.
And Bankers Association of Zambia chairperson Mizinga Melu said President Sata’s speech is hope-inspiring because it focused on a number of factors that will empower the Zambians, especially the youth.
Ms Melu also welcomed President Sata’s vision for the country’s education, health, and agriculture sectors. “I was very excited about the fact that he is looking beyond just maize and fertiliser…this will encourage farmers to focus beyond what they have been producing in the past. Most farmers will be empowered, the economy will be empowered,” she said. Ms Melu also welcomed the President’s call for the banks to reduce interest rates.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MICHAEL KAINGU, MMD, ZAMTEL
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ILO calls for more jobs, less poverty
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 02 May 2011, 04:02 CAT
THE country’s six per cent growth rate per annum has unfortunately not translated into more jobs and less poverty, says Martin Clemensson.
And Clemensson, who is International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique said having 90 per cent of Zambia’s labour force unemployed or in the informal economy was taking a risk, given the recent events in North Africa and the Middle East.
Speaking during Labour Day celebrations yesterday at Lusaka’s Freedom Statue, Clemensson said this year’s theme of creating secure employment with freedom, equity and human dignity was a noble theme and aspiration.
He said it was also the definition of decent work.
Clemensson said work could also be described as more and better jobs, or quantity and quality of work.
"So how is Zambia doing, with regard to decent work? It is a mixed picture: in terms of quantity, 10-12 per cent of the labour force is in the formal sector, i.e. they have real employment with contracts. These lucky few have regular incomes, reasonable working conditions, some social protection and are represented by the trade unions,” Clemensson said.
“But about 90 per cent of the labour force in Zambia is in the informal economy, where the quality of work is poor: they have no social protection, no regular income, no voice and are not benefiting from the country’s economic growth.”
Clemensson said given the events in North Africa and the Middle East, it was absolutely essential to connect people’s aspirations, especially young people’s aspirations, to productive solutions.
"Having 90 per cent of the labour force unemployed or in the informal economy is taking a risk. We cannot expect that productivity will come from vulnerability. Zambia cannot ground its future development on the people’s vulnerability,” Clemensson said.
“Today, the main question is not whether we can afford a social protection floor for all, but whether Zambia can afford not to invest in social protection.”
He said this year’s Labour Day theme was indeed at the heart of what was needed in Zambia: more employment and more sustainable enterprises, rights at work, social protection and occupational safety and health and social dialogue.
Clemensson said these important basics would be the founding principles for Zambia’s next Decent Work Country Programme that the three partners would develop this year with ILO.
He said a Decent Work Programme was a plan for how the trade unions, employers and Ministry of Labour and Social Security would make a significant contribution to the Sixth National Development Plan during 2012-15.
Clemensson said Zambia had a spectacular growth of about six to seven per cent per year.
“Unfortunately, that has not translated into more jobs and less poverty, an important reason for that is that much of the growth takes place in one sector only - the mining sector - thanks to booming copper prices,” Clemensson said.
“We must also invest in other sectors like tourism, construction, agriculture productivity and small enterprise development, and we must invest in education and skills.”
Clemensson said as the economy grows by six per cent, the employment should grow with six per cent and the poverty should reduce by six per cent.
“In other words, economic growth and Decent Work should go hand in hand. We must not have no without the other. There is no solution to poverty without sustainable, productive and reasonable paid jobs,” he said.
Clemensson said today, the working people needed the strong voice of the trade union movement more than ever to speak up and represent them, and to stand united.
He said the working people also needed to know exactly where political contenders’ stand with regard to what matters most: jobs, incomes, rights, protection, influence and dignity.
And President Banda said Zambia was today achieving growth because of the workers.
He said the country would this year break the 100 million tonnes barrier in mineral output.
President Banda said the country last year witnessed US$2 billion worth of investment and 18,000 new businesses were registered in the country.
President Banda said he was determined to create more jobs for Zambians.
He said the women were unsung heroes in the development the nation was witnessing.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said members of parliament should delay the collection of gratuity once their term of office was over so that workers who had not been paid for long could get their money first.
Labels: ILO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, POVERTY, RUPIAH BANDA
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ZCTU backs PVT
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 09 Apr. 2011, 04:00 CAT
PARALLEL vote tabulation is a good election monitoring tool which can help remove current suspicions against the Electoral Commission of Zambia, says ZCTU.
During a briefing at their headquarters yesterday, following the consultative meeting that was held on Thursday with affiliates, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said the PVT system had been successfully used in other countries without any negative consequences such as violence and mistrust among the contending political parties.
“The consultative meeting with affiliates yesterday Thursday resolved that PVT is a good election monitoring tool but requires proper management and knowledge on its advantages by a all participants through effective dialogue. It is a very important election methodology which has been used in many countries including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and in Zambia it was used in 2008,” Hikaumba said.
He said PVT was an important monitoring tool that could help in the credibility of election results as it was intended to deter fraud in the electoral process.
And on the failed constitution bill, ZCTU and its affiliates resolved that the issue needed to be re-tabled in Parliament after six months, with the inclusion of contentious issues such as the 50 per cent plus one threshold for a winning candidate.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, VOTERIGGING, ZCTU
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Let’s build on what Mwanawasa achieved – Nonde-Simukoko
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tue 17 Aug. 2010, 14:00 CAT
FILE PICTURE: Late president Levy Mwanawasa being shown an interlock block press by Dr. Tambatamba, Manager of TDAU - Picture courtesy of Ed Martin
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko has called for the strengthening and continuation of the anti-corruption crusade as Zambians commemorate the second memorial of late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Commenting on the second memorial of Mwanawasa, which falls tomorrow, Nonde-Simukoko said Zambians should not tolerate corruption at all. “We should continue to promote and strengthen the fight against corruption because with corruption, it is impossible to develop.
This is because money tends to go into individuals’ pockets instead of going into the national coffers to be used for development purposes,” she said.
Nonde-Simukoko said the fight against corruption should be widened to focus not only on the government leaders but also on people from other sectors.
She said corrupt people were enemies of the nation.
She urged Zambians to learn something from the jailing of former South African chief cop Jackie Selebi last month for corruption.
Nonde-Simukoko said attempts to remove abuse of authority from the revised Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act would not be accepted at all.
She observed that works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti’s explanation that the abuse of authority offence prevented leaders from making decisions was unjustified.
“If one is talking about proper decisions that are documented, I don’t see how that can prevent them from making decisions unless they are talking about making corrupt decisions,” she said.
On governance, Nonde-Simukoko said Mwanawasa tried his best, and there was need to look at the good side of what he did and to build upon it.
Nonde-Simukoko observed that it was important to build on leadership regardless of whether someone was alive or dead.
“But unfortunately in Zambia, we have one weakness: we like dismantling whatever another leader did and we end up losing track. We need to carry on and improve on the good things,” said Nonde-Simukoko.
And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba called for a holistic approach to the fight against corruption.
Hikaumba said there was need for more punitive measures for those found wanting.
He said tackling corruption should not be confined to the public sector alone.
Hikaumba said the ACC should be strengthened and adequately staffed to fight corruption, and other wings such as the police should be imparted with new policing techniques to help curb the scourge.
Hikaumba urged Zambians to learn something from Mwanawasa’s emphasis on food production.
He recalled that Mwanawasa tried to promote winter maize production to ensure that maize was harvested twice a year, thereby guaranteeing food security for the country.
“We need to step up that approach because what causes problems in any place is failure to be food-sufficient,” Hikaumba observed. Mwanawasa died on August 19, 2008 at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.
Labels: CORRUPTION, JOYCE NONDE-SIMUKOKO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, LEVY MWANAWASA, MIKE MULONGOTI
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ZCTU urges govt to increase PAYE threshold
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Fri 23 July 2010, 14:00 CAT
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba has challenged government to increase the pay as you earn (PAYE) threshold for tax exemption and adjusting the existing tax bands downwards for workers in the lower income brackets in order to reduce poverty among the working poor.
And Hikaumba has observed that the relative economic growth recorded during the
past few years has not translated into widescale job creation or broad-based
economic opportunities for the poor.
During the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) sponsored Zambia Congress of Trade
Unions (ZCTU) pre-2011 budget policy workshop in Kitwe on Thursday, Hikaumba
said government should consider the plight of the working poor in the 2011
national budget.
“At the same time government must take bold steps to start working towards
broadening the tax base seriously because a number of profitable businesses in
the informal sector remain largely untaxed and it is common knowledge that
billions of kwacha is turned over in the informal economy each year,” Hikaumba
said.
“For these reasons we challenge government to increase PAYE tax threshold
for tax exemption and adjusting the existing tax bands downwards for workers in
the lower income brackets so that poverty can be reduced among the working
poor.”
In the 2010 budget, PAYE tax exemption threshold stands at K700,000 and those
earning K800,000 to K1,200,000 per month are taxed at 25 per cent while those
earning between K1,200,000 and K4,000,000 fall in the 30 per cent tax band with
those earning above K4,000,000 falling in the 35 per cent PAYE tax band.
And Hikaumba said widespread poverty in Zambia meant that an estimated 64 per
cent of the population lives on less than US $1.00 per day.
“The relative economic growth recorded recently was concentrated on capital
intensive sectors of mining and construction and did not translate into wide
scale job creation or broad based economic opportunities for the poor, although
copper mining accounts for 75 per cent of our exports, it provides only one per
cent of direct employment overall,” said Hikaumba.
“The vast majority of Zambians rely on agriculture as the source of their livelihood hence we challenge government to prioritize agricultural needs both in the 2011 budget and the sixth national development plan.”
Labels: FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, PAYE, ZCTU
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Hikaumba bemoans government workers’ delayed negotiations
Written by George Zulu in Monze
Monday, October 12, 2009 7:46:58 AM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has expressed worry over the delay by the government to sanction the negotiations of improved conditions of service for government workers. In an interview in Monze, Hikaumba said the move taken by government to remain silent on the issue of negotiations for improved conditions of service was a source of concern and conflict for Zambian workers.
“The future of a Zambian worker is questionable, is bleak. It does not give hope for the better government workers,” he said.
Hikaumba said ZCTU was alive to the fact that the government had been going through a lot of economic problems with huge demands for improved road infrastructure, schools and health facilities but added that the workers also needed improved working conditions because they had sacrificed for a long time.
He said the government had failed to award workers significantly since 1991 when the MMD took over power and introduced economic restructuring programmes which he said impacted negatively on government workers and the general populace.
“Government had to restrict the improved conditions of service in order to improve the country’s economy. There was an issue of external debt which was quite high, workers had to sacrifice again in order for government to realise the benefit of HIPC but alas, we have not seen any benefits in terms of improved conditions of service apart from being told to continue sacrificing,” Hikaumba said. “There were so many other programmes that government had put in place to improve the economy of the country at the expense of improving the conditions of service of government workers throughout the country and workers sacrificed.”
Hikaumba said workers were only asking the government to consider responding to the sacrifice they had made since Independence and reduce the brain drain the country had continued to experience as it was a mockery to the nation.
“It has become a mockery to the country’s economy. Unfortunately there has been no agreement towards the increase and improved conditions of service because the negotiations have not yet started,” said Hikaumba.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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Hikaumba urges CBU senate to reinstate expelled union leaders
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, September 14, 2009 5:43:11 AM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has appealed to the Copperbelt University (CBU) senate to immediately reinstate the expelled union leaders.
Commenting on the CBU senate’s expulsion of Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) executive, Hikaumba said expelling students’ union leaders was not a solution to the frequent unrests at universities.
CBU in Kitwe re-opened yesterday.
“Since its not a solution, we want to appeal to the senate of the Copperbelt University to revisit the decision that they made to expel students’ union leaders because that will not resolve the problems that gave rise to the students’ protest,” said Hikaumba, who was part of the UNZASU executive that was expelled when he was a student several years ago. “As long as we do not focus on the real causes of these problems, as long as we address just the symptoms we shall always have problems at hand. So our appeal is that they should reinstate the students and then address the problem that caused the students’ unrest.”
He further urged the Ministry of Education to intervene if the senate would not rescind its decision.
“To our colleagues the students, we want to appeal to them that let us also try to find other ways of airing our grievances or emphasising our grievances because over time the main way of expressing themselves the students have had to embark violence,” Hikaumba said.
He said riots were not the right way to express grievances.
“In most cases when there is a riot, the victims are innocent people. In fact, sometimes the people who support the students fall victims,” said Hikaumba.
Last Monday, September 7, 2009, the CBU senate expelled the entire COBUSU leadership for having violated students’ rules and regulations as provided for in the students’ information handbook.
The senate further suspended students that were identified as having actively participated in causing disturbances at the institution between April 18 and August 12, 2009 pending appearance before the dean of students’ disciplinary committee.
Labels: CBU, COBUSU, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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Don’t start another labour dispute
Written by Editor
It seems those who are most incapable of solving problems are the most eager to create them. It’s difficult to understand how a government that lamentably failed to address or solve the labour dispute that crippled our education and health services for weeks now wants to create new problems in the same sectors.
There is need for those in government to mull over things and listen to, and heed the advice of, the labour leaders. Trying to punish workers over last month’s strikes will simply result in new and bigger labour unrest.
It seems this government is good at nothing but creating conflicts without the ability to resolve them. What they must realise is that when we talk about good governance, in many ways we are talking about nothing more than a set of rules and practical actions for managing conflict. We say this because democracy, itself, is in many ways nothing more than a set of rules for managing conflict.
At the same time, these conflicts must be managed within certain limits and result in compromises, consensus or other agreements that all sides accept as legitimate. An overemphasis on one side of the equation can threaten the entire undertaking. If we perceive democracy as nothing more than a forum in which we can press for our demands, society can shatter from within. If those in government exert excessive pressure to achieve consensus, stifling the wishes, desires and voices of others, society can be crushed from above.
In an open society, in a democratic nation – a nation where the rights and freedoms of individuals are respected – there will always be conflicts. And it is the duty or obligation of those in power to help manage these conflicts. There is no easy way to all this. It is said that democracy is not a machine that runs by itself once the proper principles and procedures are inserted.
There is need for the commitment of citizens who should accept the inevitability of conflict as well as the necessity for tolerance. It is for this reason that a culture of negotiating, of seeking consensus is so important to develop. There is need to realise that there is no group that will be crushed and this being the case, there is need for tolerance and consensus seeking. There are various sides to any dispute. And there is need for all sides to meet in a spirit of compromise and seek a specific solution to their problems or differences.
There is need for the employers and the employed to learn to work together, to build coalitions. After all, coalition building is the essence of democratic action because it teaches interest groups to negotiate with others, to compromise and work within the legal framework. In this way, groups with differences can learn how to argue peaceably, how to pursue their goals in a peaceful manner and ultimately how to live in a world of diversity.
These principles we are talking about are not a set of revealed, unchanging truths. They are simply a mechanism by which, through the clash and compromise of ideas, individuals and groups can learn to work together and accommodate each other, however imperfectly.
To end any labour dispute, there is need for concessions from all sides whether explicitly or implicitly. Concessions are inherent in any negotiated settlements of disputes. And when people negotiate, they must be prepared to compromise. And when compromises are made, they must be respected and stuck to.
Trying to go back and punish those who went on strike will just reopen the wounds. And the government may start a bigger dispute than the previous one. Let bygones be bygones. We all know that, by and large, strikes are recognised and accepted the world over as an effective and powerful weapon in the hands of workers to get something from their employers. Unacceptable as some strikes may be, they should however not be criminalised.
There is need for the government to show some good will to the workers; to show that they can be trusted and turned into reliable partners by the workers and their leaders. If this trust completely goes, when new disputes erupt, no one will be able to intervene because intervention only works when people concerned seem to be keen to agree and reach some consensus.
Whatever the government may still not be happy about those strikes, it’s better to simply move on and start a new page. After all, this is the nature of compromising: when you compromise, you have to accept and tolerate certain undesirable behaviour or conduct. If you are not prepared to do so, then you must not enter or think about the process of a negotiated settlement at all because this involves giving and taking.
Those strikes caused a lot of damage. Many people lost their lives as a result of those strikes, clearly indicating that something serious was wrong in our country. Trying to revive those strikes through unnecessary retribution is unwise; it is senseless. Those who failed to find a solution to those strikes should not now try to exhibit themselves as champions of discipline.
We have no doubt that if one humble worker is punished for taking part in those strikes, there will be solidarity from the others. We don’t see how all those workers who went on strike will allow any one of them to be singled out for victimisation without offering them solidarity.
Moreover, solidarity is a direct requirement of human and supernatural brotherhood. The serious socioeconomic problems that occur today cannot be solved unless new fronts of solidarity are created: solidarity of the poor among themselves, solidarity among the workers, and with workers. All these will have to share in a general movement of solidarity.
Tolerance is required. How many times has the government failed in its contractual obligations towards the workers and the workers have been extremely understanding and tolerant? How many times have government workers gone with delayed pay but still turning up for work and without making government pay them interest for the delayed pay? We still have thousands of retired government workers who have not received their retirement benefits from the government.
They have been understanding and tolerant. They have not gone round confiscating or destroying government property. Workers have bent backwards to accommodate the government’s inadequacies. But how many times has the government done the same? When the government had problems increasing wages as a result of a wage freeze imposed by its financiers, the workers were understanding and accepted to forego their contractual rights. What would the government lose by ignoring everything that happened during the strike and start a new peaceful page?
There are times when it is necessary to yield even to things that may not seem acceptable. As we have stated before, yielding is legitimate and essential in two cases: when the yielder is convinced that those who are striving to make him yield are in the right – in which case honest political leaders frankly and openly admit their mistake – or when an irrational and harmful demand is yielded to in order to avoid a greater evil.
In this case, if the strike was illegal and those who were involved in it do not deserve to be paid, the government will be averting a greater evil, continued industrial unrest by simply turning a blind eye to all this and let bygones be bygones. What we are saying is not a novel idea. It’s actually common place wisdom that little annoyances should not be allowed to stand in the way of a big pleasure.
We hope those in government will listen to the advice of the labour leaders and avoid starting a new series of strikes.
Labels: LABOUR, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, STRIKE
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ZCTU advises govt to avoid another labour conflict
Written by Agness Changala in Lusaka and Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Sunday, July 05, 2009 4:33:59 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba yesterday asked the government to rescind its decision not to pay public workers who took part in the just-ended strike. And education authorities in Mazabuka have received a circular from education permanent secretary directing them to take appropriate disciplinary actions against teachers who participated in the alleged illegal strike.
And education authorities in Mazabuka have received a circular from education permanent secretary directing them to take appropriate disciplinary actions against teachers who participated in the alleged illegal strike.
Commenting on Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja’s directive to permanent secretaries to ensure that public service employees who absconded from duty during the strike were not paid for the days they stayed away from work, Hikaumba said the government’s decision would create more problems even when the two parties were engaging each other to find a lasting solution to the problems. He said the government must look at the implications of such a decision.
“That will bring more problems and I urge the government to rescind their decision,” said Hikaumba.
And Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) University Teaching Hospital (UTH) branch chairperson Frey Michelo described the move as wrong and unfortunate.
“As far as we are concerned, there has been no formal communication to us,” said Michelo.
Health workers who called off their strike last week after 37 days of protest were demanding risk allowances and an increase in overtime and uniform allowances.
On Thursday, more than 300 health workers in Ndola were asked to exculpate themselves or face disciplinary charges for allegedly going on an illegal strike.
According to the union, about 200 nurses and paramedics at Ndola Central Hospital had received the letters while 116 were from 20 clinics under the District Health Management Team (DMHT).
And about 100 health workers in Ndola were on Friday scheduled to appear before a disciplinary committee to exculpate themselves on their absence from work during the five-week strike period.
Meanwhile, Mazabuka District Education Board secretary Darius Kaluba said his office was now compiling a list of teachers who had participated in the nationwide strike and would soon commence disciplinary action against them.
But Zambia National Union of Teachers Mazabuka district chairperson, Engleigh Malambo, said there was urgent need for the government to quickly withdraw the circular. Malambo said meting out punishment on the teachers would just ignite an indefinite industrial unrest which would be difficult to handle.
He said there was need for the government to appreciate the fact that the strike action was caused by its delay to conclude salary negotiations.
Malambo said now that teachers had agreed to go back to work, the government should find the root cause of the industrial unrest that almost paralysed the education sector and find solutions on how to prevent future strikes.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MAZABUKA DISTRICT, STRIKE, ZCTU
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We’re ready to be fired - C/belt health workers
Written by Staff Reporters
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:45:35 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has said issuing threats against the striking health workers will not solve any problem.
And police officers were yesterday deployed to various clinics in Lusaka as the strike by health workers continued.
Meanwhile, health workers on the Copperbelt have declared that they are ready to be fired as they will not resume work if their demands are not met.
Commenting on health minister Kapembwa Simbao's order to striking health workers to resume work by Monday failure to which they would be sacked, Hikaumba said intimidation of health workers would equally not work.
Hikaumba said the health workers could not be fired if there was no suitable and adequate replacement.
"If the nurses decide not to reapply, where do you get the manpower? They are banking on retired nurses, they are not even enough to cover the whole country because you are firing people doing field work. Where can you just fire people and get a replacement immediately without problems?" Hikaumba asked.
He said as a union, they had been persuading health workers not to leave the country looking at how marketable their profession was.
"We encourage them to work within the country. If you look at other countries and compare the conditions of service, there is a big temptation to work outside the country so as a union, we are talking to our members. Let us motivate our own people, if all our health workers went out of the country, what will happen to the majority of Zambians?" he asked.
Hikaumba said the health workers' grievances were valid and legitimate because they had been complaining about allowances that had not been reviewed for the past six years.
He said the matter needed to be resolved amicably and that whatever action would be taken should be aimed at finding a solution to the problem.
"Comments made should be aimed at finding a solution. If they are going to say things that will aggravate the situation, it is not good for us. Let us be very conscious so that we handle the situation very strategically. The language from government should be persuasive rather than intimidation and use of threats," he said.
Hikaumba said health workers were human beings who were capable of listening.
And police officers were deployed to Bauleni, Kalingalinga and Matero referral clinics following the statement by Simbao.
A check at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) found the nurses gathered near the car park at the casualty ward.
One of the nurses spoken to said as far as they were concerned, the government had not communicated anything to them.
The nurse said health workers had a number of meetings with the government and they did not expect to be addressed through the media.
"As far as we are concerned, that was just a national address," the nurse said.
Another nurse said they would continue going to the hospital because a nurse belonged to a hospital just as a teacher belonged to a class.
The nurse said the government should not create enmity between the nurses and the police by using the latter to intimidate them.
The nurse said they were still waiting for feedback from their union leader and labour minister Austin Liato as promised after the meeting on Monday.
"If they want to fire us, let them give us our packages instantly. We are better off working for a white man and we will not return to work unless we are met half-way and do not be cheated, there is no one who is working. If they decide to fire all of us, they will have to close all the clinics as well," the nurse said. "If they do not have money to pay as they claim, where are they going to get money to pay expatriates? We know what we want. Why is it so difficult to sign the agreement we want, to commit themselves? Why is Simbao so quick to issue threats when no single day did he come to address us? He is contradicting himself because Liato said he would get back to us as soon as possible so we are waiting for him, at least he made an effort to come and see us. Let him [Simbao] leave this to Liato. He wasn't interested as a father to come and address us and left it to our uncle [Liato]."
And police in riot gear sealed off Ndola Central and Kitwe Central hospitals, blocking health workers from holding their meetings at the premises.
During a meeting held at Kansenshi Cemetery in Ndola after they were blocked from holding their meeting at Ndola Central Hospital, the health workers said they were ready to be buried and would not report for work as demanded by Simbao.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Ndola district branch chairperson Joy Beene asked the workers if they were ready to be fired to which they answered in the affirmative.
"Firing should not be without money," Beene said. "They should give us dismissal letters with our packages."
Beene said the health workers had forwarded their demands to Liato and expected him to return with answers to them.
"Liato promised us 'let me go and consult' and that consultation was just a phone call consultation and we all remained there in the cafeteria with the provincial health director, Ndola Central Hospital director but he went for good," Beene said. "It was the minister of labour who opened the meeting and I am just sitting in for him. I can't close the meeting for him he just has to come and close it."
He noted that Liato was on record as having indicated that President Banda did not say that health workers would be fired.
"What Simbao said [on firing health workers], he did not liaise with the labour minister," he said. "He was supposed to get instructions from the labour minister."
Beene urged workers who would receive letters of dismissal or disciplinary action not to be intimidated.
One of the health workers challenged Simbao not to address them on television but to get to the ground and face them.
Another health worker remarked that they only watched Al Jazeera and not ZNBC television and as such Simbao's message would not reach them.
Another health worker, who said she served during Dr Kenneth Kaunda's era when the health workers strike went on for 40 days, testified that at the time, doctors were evicted from their houses and that should a similar thing happen, the health workers who would be removed from their houses could seek refuge from their colleagues who were ready to accommodate them.
Another health worker said government officials were contradicting themselves.
"They should be organised," she said. "Liato said they won't dismiss us and then Simbao says you'll be dismissed. Let them behave like adults and be organised."
Another worker reminded fellow health workers that the government was making frantic efforts in trying to ensure that they returned to work in view of the forthcoming Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF).
The worker said the government did not want to be embarrassed before international visitors at the ZITF that the health system had ground to a halt in case anyone sought medical attention during the annual event.
The health worker said Simbao did not seem to understand how the health ministry operated.
The worker said those who had left Zambia for greener pastures in South Africa and other places would not return to take up vacancies that will have been created as a result of poor working conditions in the health sector.
The health worker told colleagues not to be tempted by allowances that would be given during the child health week planned for next week.
He encouraged his colleagues not to change their minds because if some went back to work then the government would have a reason to dismiss those who did not return.
One of the health workers accused the government of turning to the former health workers whom it had retired without paying benefits.
"Health workers were retired five years ago and they have not been given their packages," said the health worker. "They have been reduced to beggars and now they are asking them to re-apply. We won't be reduced to beggars."
The health workers resolved to meet at Kansenshi Cemetery on Monday at 08:00 hours.
And the health workers in Ndola who initially were supposed to meet at the Ndola Central Hospital were dispersed by police led by Ndola district deputy commanding officer Anderson Chengo.
In Kitwe riot police sealed off the Kitwe Central Hospital entrance.
In Luanshya, health workers refused to return to work, saying they would only do so when their demands are met.
Health workers in Luanshya said threats would not help the government.
Luanshya district commissioner George Kapu went to Roan General Hospital where health workers were meeting and went into another meeting with management and district union officials.
Health Workers Union of Zambia vice-chairman Innocent Daka said when union leaders went to speak to the workers after meeting Kapu, they refused to return to work and resolved to meet at Thomson Hospital on Monday.
The workers said they would meet at the graveyard if it so happened that they were chased away by police from the hospital premises.
Meanwhile, police in Chingola arrested four health workers union officials for gathering illegally in the hospital premises.
According to Patrick Chisanga, a member of the health workers' union, the officials wanted to brief their colleagues at Nchanga North Hospital on what transpired during their meeting with Liato in Ndola.
Chisanga said the police picked up the four leaders - Musonda Mabenga, Divan Kamuka and Shaderick Makopo - and took them to Chingola Central Police Station.
By press time the four were not charged but Chisanga said their arrest was pure intimidation by police.
Labels: COPPERBELT PROVINCE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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Health workers boo Liato
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:03:45 PM
HEALTH workers on Monday booed labour minister Austin Liato during a meeting at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) over the ongoing nationwide strike. And Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said
all political leaders should be taken to UTH when they fall ill so that they could use the same equipment that ordinary Zambians use.
Meanwhile, health minister Kapembwa Simbao said he did not attend the meeting on Monday because the issues at hand had to do with labour.
The health workers from Chongwe, Kafue and Lusaka booed the minister and the union leaders as they entered the hall to address them.
The health workers had placards with messages that read "Abash intimidation tactics, Abash Siulapwa, our problem is beyond a minister, we want RB."
Hikaumba began the meeting by saying the matter that had brought them there was a serious one.
He gave the background of the bargaining process and noted that the government leaders might not take the grievances of the health workers seriously because they could travel out of the country for treatment.
"Let us insist even now, let us be all treated equally. No one especially political leaders should go out of the country for treatment. They should be brought here and treated, if they want good treatment, let them make them favourable to their expectations," he said.
He wondered of what benefit it was for Zambia for leaders to fly abroad to treatment and land in the hands of Zambian doctors and nurses.
Hikaumba said there was need to demand for improved conditions of service and improved facilities.
Hikaumba said workers had created problems for themselves by having many unions, saying there was need for unity.
Hikaumba said as a result of the strike action, the Ministry of Health had released K25 billion to settle the outstanding arrears.
At this point, the nurses refused and booed Hikaumba.
Hikaumba said the workers had been complaining about housing allowances and there was no way anybody could find a house for K200,000.
Hikaumba said he was disappointed with some members of parliament who approved a budget that could give civil servants a 14 per cent increment at the most.
He said the parliamentarians kept quiet on civil servants' salaries and that none of them had called for the deferment of payment of mid-term gratuity.
He asked the health workers if their grievances were about salaries and they responded; "no! it's about allowances."
Hikaumba said they would not succumb to intimidation and that the labour movement did not want to hear that any health worker had received a letter of suspension.
And the health workers booed Liato when he stood up to address them.
Liato, whose address was punctuated by heckles from the workers, said the problem could not have been created in the nine months that President Banda had been in office.
"Whether you disagree or not, we have to be factual," Liato said as the workers booed at him.
He said the issue of the housing allowance could be resolved but that the meeting was not appropriate for such negotiations.
Liato said no employer could bargain for conditions of service when the employees were on strike.
He said the health workers had driven their point and they needed to ensure that the due process took effect.
Liato said he did not go to force the workers to resume work but to reason with them.
He said the matter would be treated with the urgency it deserved and asked the workers to return to work.
However, the workers said they would not return to work.
Liato said the health workers' problem could only be resolved when they resume work but they shouted "no" in response.
Liato said the government respected their views and knew of what service they were to the nation as the nurses responded "No you don't know."
And the nurses' representative Hammond Kapapa said the health workers were disappointed with the way the government had handled the situation.
Kapapa said some of the nurses had been in training for close to five years and it had taken 10 days to get an adequate platform to address their grievances.
Kapapa said nurses worked more hours than any civil servant and yet they were not appreciated.
He said they were being insulted through the public media.
On risk allowance, Kapapa said the hospital was a risky area and health workers were exposed to all sorts of air and fluid diseases.
He said they had seen other people being given what they wanted.
Kapapa said the health workers wanted a formal written and signed agreement between the union and the government that they would meet their grievances and a timeframe within which to do so.
And ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba said he agreed with the health workers who had been told in the past to wait for improved conditions of service.
Mwaba asked the health workers to give the government four weeks but the health workers refused.
Liato said the government had heard their views and the message would be passed on to President Rupiah Banda.
But Kapapa said the workers would only return to work once the written agreement was signed.
Liato assured the health workers that he would get back to them.
And in an interview after he toured UTH yesterday, Simbao said he agreed with Liato and ZCTU to let the labour minister and the union address the workers in his absence because the matter concerned labour.
"Otherwise I would have come, I have no problems with that," he said.
He said the hospital was quiet and that patients who were there were being attended to by trainee nurses.
Simbao said the doctors were working as well and one could look at it as manageable.
"But when you see that wards have been closed. Then you see that there is a very big problem. A lot of people who are sick cannot be attended to because of the depleted number of people. And that's our concern as government because this is one area that buzzes with numbers. So it is a very difficult situation and hope that this must come to an end and let the sick people get the help that they need," he said.
Simbao said he would follow up the matter as there were some areas that needed to be re-looked.
Simbao was accompanied by his deputy minister Mwendoi Akakandelwa and permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, HEALTHCARE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, UTH
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Nurses ready to work
By ANGELA CHISHIMBA
STRIKING nurses in Lusaka have agreed to go back to work on condition that Government and their union leaders sign a commitment agreement that will indicate the time-frame in which their demands for improved allowances will be addressed.
And Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato has said
Government will get back to the nurses and their unions over their demands for a commitment agreement.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) representative Harmond Kapapa, who was speaking at a meeting held at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), said as soon as the commitment agreement is signed, nurses will go back to work.
“We are ready to even return to work today if the agreement is signed,” he said.
He said nurses have taken this stance because of broken promises by Government in the past.
“We are tired of promises, so our condition for going back is after that commitment agreement is signed. We have been given empty promises in the past. Our union leaders are preparing this commitment document and this will be presented to Government,” he said.
Mr Kapapa said contrary to reports that the nurses have rejected the 15 per cent salary increment, what is in contention are the allowances.
He said despite nurses working between 36 to 40 hours per week, they are only given K30,000 as over-time per month whilst night duty allowance is K35,000.
Mr Kapapa wondered why nurses have been denied risk allowance when they operate in a high-risk environment.
And Mr Liato said he had heard the nurses’ demands and promised to get back to them after consultations. He said he would inform President Banda of the nurses’ concerns. He, however, urged the nurses to go back to work and allow Government and the unions to continue negotiating for the allowances.
“You must understand that Government and the unions cannot negotiate while you are on strike so the best thing to do is go back to work and give us chance to negotiate. We cannot negotiate in this atmosphere.
“You are employees of Government and the rules are that Government can’t negotiate if you are not working. We cannot give you answers on the floor, the law doesn’t allow that,” he said.
Mr Liato urged the nurses to understand that he did not arrange to meet them so that he could force them to do anything but that he called for the meeting so that they reason together.
“It is important for us to harmonise our interests. Answers will come because this matter will be given the urgency it deserves. The best thing is for us to get back to work now.
“I am going away with a feeling that tomorrow, you will return to work. As Government, we respect all of you and know how much of service you are to this nation. I am confident that some of you will return to work,” he said.
Mr Liato said the problems the nurses are facing have not been caused by President Banda in the nine months he has been in charge.
Earlier, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba appealed to Government to resolve the problems nurses are facing and warned against intimidation of union members. Mr Hikaumba appealed to workers to remain united so that they achieve their demands.
He also demanded that Ministry of Health should provide transport for workers.
Mr Hikaumba also took a swipe at some opposition political party leaders who he said did little to improve health workers’ welfare.
“We are saying no to those who want to gain cheap political mileage over our problems, we know what is best for us and as workers, we shall fight on our own,” he said.
He also condemned some Parliamentarians who are criticising Government for the strike when they are the ones who approved a budget they knew could only give workers not more than 14 per cent.
Mr Hikaumba disclosed that when the union met with Government officials who included Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao, Government pledged that K25 billion would be released to settle some of the outstanding arrears.
And ZCTU general secretary Roy Mwaba said the nurses’ case is a unique one which needs unique attention.
He proposed that Government is given four weeks in which to resolve the issues, a suggestion which nurses rejected.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, NURSES, ROY MWABA, STRIKE
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Address striking health workers’ demands, Hikaumba urges govt
Written by Maluba Jere, Mutale Kapekele, Kabanda Chulu and George Zulu
Monday, June 22, 2009 4:03:20 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has said demands by striking health workers in the country are genuine and need to be addressed with the seriousness they deserve. And the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and some clinics around Lusaka yesterday remained deserted with just a few patients and students nurses at the premises.
In an interview yesterday, Hikaumba urged the government to
desist from issuing statements that intimidated and threatened the health workers.
Hikaumba said the statement by chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha that nurses who did not want to resume work should resign would not help the situation.
"There shouldn't be any statements that are likely to aggravate the situation as it is already bad," Hikaumba said. "I would like to appeal to government to stop issuing threats and statements that are intimidatory because the aim is to arrive at an amicable solution. Such statements from the minister will only aggravate the situation."
Hikaumba, who described the strike action by health workers as a complex issue, expressed optimism that a solution would be found.
"We believe that problems are always there but as long as people are willing to talk, to discuss and understand each other, there is nothing impossible in finding a solution," he said. "The issue is complex but the demands are genuine. In fact, demands by all government workers are genuine and certain things need to be looked into to deal with the problem."
Hikaumba said since the unions were still negotiating, they would present before the government many other issues affecting workers that needed to be looked into.
Recently, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the strike action was bad especially that nurses had failed to reason, claiming that they were being incited by the opposition political parties in the country.
He said nurses who felt they could not go back to work should resign.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the government had spoken and that it was up to the striking nurses to decide whether to go back to work or resign.
Health workers in most parts of the country have been on strike for over a month now, demanding improved conditions of service.
An on-the-spot check at UTH revealed the hospital had a handful of student nurses attending to a few patients.
The high cost section of the hospital was also closed.
The hospital was also being guarded by plain-clothed security personnel who were seen on benches in most of the wards.
The only active ward at the hospital was B13 high cost maternity ward where nurses were seen working.
A nurse talked to said the matrons, who were originally not part of the strike, were still not working in protest against paramilitary police presence at the hospital.
"The matrons and senior nurses who were still working have not yet returned and we still have security people within the hospital but they are not in uniform," the nurse said. "We have just been told that the strike is ending tomorrow. So maybe tomorrow you will find the nurses working."
The morning matron, who refused to be named, referred all queries to the Ministry of Health.
At Chipata clinic, patients were seen outside with no one attending to them.
The maternity section of the clinic was the only open department with the matron attending to all the patients.
The situation was worse at Ng'ombe clinic where only the guard and a cleaner were found at the premises.
And Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) immediate past national secretary Chibamba Kanyama warned the government that continued strikes by public services workers were a risk that would strain the economy in general.
Kanyama said even if public service workers were not directly linked to the production sector, their withdrawal of labour for prolonged periods could have fundamental lasting economic damage to the economic stability.
"The existing threat is on the attainment of low inflation, low unemployment, low interest rates and high growth rates. In other words, all the anticipated economic gains in this year's budget will be significantly affected if the social services sector records low output. The issue of productivity in the public service has for many years been under question," Kanyama said. "This is testimony to the fact that man-hours in the public service are a critical input towards national growth. And it is for the same reason that the public service takes up close to nine per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in expenditure and to tolerate the withdrawal of labour for several weeks is taking risks with socioeconomic stability."
He said it would not be long before the private sector begins to feel the impact of the civil service strikes as the country experiences a huge social burden in terms of costs associated with suspended health provision and other services.
"In addition, the strikes have posted a level of political and economic uncertainty that will have long term implications on investor perception of the business climate and it must be appreciated that the efficient provision of public goods such as education, health care, and law enforcement generally lead to sustained levels of economic growth," said Kanyama. "It is, therefore, important that the government and trade unions should put an end to these strikes immediately and begin to align public service efforts towards economic management and efficient service provision. The longer we allow the current impasse to persist, the more harm we create to the economy both in the short and long term.
Monze Central UPND member of parliament Jack Mwiimbu said the silence by President Rupiah Banda on the continued strike by nurses and other health workers throughout the country was deafening and shocking to the nation.
Mwiimbu said the President should come out very categorically and state the government's position on the strike by health workers.
He said it was unreasonable for any government to remain quiet when people were dying because of the withdrawal of labour by health workers.
"It is really shocking that a head of state could be that adamant at such a critical time, as Zambians we should be worried at the kind of leadership we have in the nation. Nurses, teachers and other civil servants have gone on strike but the President is not interested in restoring the pride of the people by addressing the concern raised by workers. This government has failed to govern this country," he said.
Mwiimbu charged that the government had committed treason by allowing people in hospitals to die when they were other means to resolve the industrial unrest which the nation was currently experiencing.
"If there is anyone who has committed treason, it is government because they have allowed the situation in the health sector to reach deplorable state where people are dying without any responsive action and government should not put the blame on people speaking on behalf
of the Zambians, no. They should not accuse other political leaders of inciting workers, the Rupiah Banda administration has failed completely to address the situation and it is a sad development," Mwiimbu said in an interview after addressing hundreds of UPND members at Monze Youth Project last Saturday.
Mwiimbu also said there was no need for the government to deploy the police at UTH to harass nurses because the current situation was an industrial matter.
He said the government was a responsible institution and should be seen to be negotiating with health workers than resorting to harassing them.
Mwiimbu said if the financial management of the country was prudent most of the demands by health and other government workers could have been resolved.
"If you look at the corruption and the grand theft that is taking place in government, if that money was prudently used they would have resolved most of the issues the workers are asking government to undertake," Mwiimbu said.
New Generation Party president Humphrey Siulapwa urged health workers in the country to accept the 15 per cent salary increment and return to work.
In a statement released yesterday, Siulapwa advised nurses to resume work as their leaders negotiated for the other conditions of service and that health worker would be responsible if more people died as a result of the strike.
But Southern Province Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia [SESTUZ] challenged government to avert the strike by public service workers by forgoing the mid-term gratuity for parliamentarians.
"Our members feel betrayed by government and national union leaders, government has indicated that there is no money and workers are seeing this. So they should forgo their mid term gratuity to avert any possible chaos in the country. These workers are not happy and what government should not forget is that workers are meeting tomorrow Monday [today] to chart the way forward," said SESTUZ provincial chairperson Collins Malambo. "Yes, as union leaders we have done our part to ask our members to return for work but they will resolve that on their own at a meeting. Mind you negotiations are still going on the housing allowance and rural hardship.”
Labels: HEALTHCARE, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, STRIKE, ZCTU
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Hikaumba welcomes RB, unionists meeting
By Times Reporter
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has commended President Rupiah Banda for agreeing to meet the labour movement to discuss various issues affecting workers.
Mr Hikaumba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the union was ready for the meeting with the Head of State and was just waiting for a date to be set.
“We are ready and are just waiting to get the actual date. We have wanted to have this meeting for a long time,” he said.
President Banda on Saturday said that he was anxious to meet the labour movement to discuss various challenges the country was faced with as they were important players in the economy.
Mr Hikaumba, during this year’s Labour Day celebrations, requested for an audience with Mr Banda so that the unions could air their views and grievances.
He said that the meeting would, among many issues, look at matters affecting the workers in the wake of the global financial crisis and other outstanding issues between the union and the Government.
He, however, refused to give specifics of the meeting saying he did not want to pre-empt the details of the meeting.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA, ZCTU
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‘Banda should have given priority to Labour Day’
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe and Ernest Chanda
Saturday, May 02, 2009 4:53:13 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba yesterday said President Rupiah Banda should have given priority to the Zambian workers over his trip to Zimbabwe. And Vice-President George Kunda said this year’s Labour Day was very significant as it came when the country was facing severe economic challenges brought about by the global economic crisis.
During yesterday’s Labour Day commemorations, under the theme ‘Economic Recovery Through Respect for Workers Rights, Good Governance and Job Security’, Hikaumba said this was the first Labour Day held under President Banda and it was a pity that he was not around because the workers had a message for him.
“We feel he should have given us priority,” he said.
Hikaumba said it was important especially that over 10,000 workers had lost jobs in the recent past and so many were in doubt if they would be employed tomorrow or the other week.
“That is why we would have loved him to be here,” he emphasised.
Hikaumba said the labour union was also disappointed that they had not been successful in making an appointment to meet President Banda to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis and how to avoid further job losses.
“When President Banda addressed party cadres at State House, he said he received a phone call from a party official on the eve of the demonstration. That is the quick response we would like to see. For us to wait for such a long time, we feel that we have been overlooked,” he said.
He told Vice-President Kunda that the labour movement wanted to have a meeting with President Banda.
Hikaumba said it was disappointing that their own government could ignore their concerns and side with employers who were only interested in making profits.
He complained that workers had been sacrificing for a long time and recalled the wage freeze and HIPC completion point that were used as excuses not to improve the conditions of service for employees.
Hikaumba said now there was an excuse of the global financial crisis and wondered for how long workers would continue sacrificing.
He said workers felt that political leaders not only from the ruling party but other parties had not been leading the way as they were busy fighting each other.
Hikaumba wondered how the country could develop if there was no chance for stakeholders to sit together.
Hikaumba said the action by business houses to cut jobs as a result of the global economic crunch was an abuse of workers’ rights.
“How can you explain when a chief officer has a salary that can pay 100 workers and workers are denied when their employer is driving more than five vehicles?” he asked.
Hikaumba said good governance was very important and that the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) would just be a plan on paper if the rights of workers were not taken into account.
He said when the mines were enjoying high copper prices, they were still complaining about the windfall tax, which was sorted out for them.
“When will workers benefit? What happened to all the huge profits that were made?” he asked.
Hikaumba said there had been calls that the public service should distance themselves from politics but they had in recent past seen politicians appointed to the public service.
He said such appointments confused civil servants much as they were done to reward people for having campaigned in the elections.
“Let us avoid appointing politicians in the civil service,” he said.
Hikaumba also said Zambian Airways went under because of failure to sit down and dialogue.
He wondered how many more companies would go under due to the failure to sit down and dialogue.
“Now we also hear of the proposed increase in electricity tariffs by Zesco by 66 per cent. Already workers are over burdened with the taxes they are paying. Government should come in and intervene,” Hikaumba said.
And Vice-President Kunda, who represented President Banda at the celebrations, said he had taken note and he would deliver the messages to the President, from the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) and more importantly ZCTU.
He said the government values the relationship between employers, employees and the government.
Vice-President Kunda said he would also deliver the request from the labour movement to meet the President and had also taken note of a number of issues raised on governance and the suffering of the workers.
He also said the government would respect their opinions even where the government may take a different view because that was what democracy was all about.
Vice-President Kunda said this year’s theme for Labour Day was a wake-up call to the realities of the economic downturn and the need for workers and employers to work together to ensure the quickest recovery of the economy for the mutual benefit of both parties.
He said the effect of the global economic crisis had not been limited to the mining sector and the impact had also been felt in the agriculture, tourism and manufacturing sectors due to a global decline in demand.
Vice-President Kunda said he was aware that the removal of windfall taxes had raised a lot of debate but the rationale behind the decision was to enable the mines sustain their operations, expand existing investment and secure jobs.
He said with regard to the situation at Luanshya Copper Mines, which was currently under care and maintenance, the government was working tirelessly to find other investors to operate the mine.
He said given the current situation in the mining sector as a whole, the government was considering the recommendation from the recently held indaba of putting in place a task force to review the operations of the entire mining industry.
Vice-President Kunda warned employers that the government would not tolerate the tendency where employers arbitrarily lay off workers under the guise of the global economic crisis.
Vice-President Kunda said the government had also observed with concern the tendency by some employers to take advantage of the large supply of labour in the country to disregard the relevant labour laws and abuse workers’ rights, saying such ascts would not be tolerated.
And International Labour Organisation (ILO) regional representative for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Gerry Finnegan asked the government to devise steps that would create a better and secure environment for workers.
“…The rigorous implementation of existing laws and policies, particularly in relation to inspection of Zambia’s work places to ensure compliance and elimination of workplace abuses. A systematic implementation of the employment policy, with an action plan and appropriate outputs and indicators. …Amendments to the industrial and labour relations Act (2008) to ensure full compliance with International Labour Conventions already ratified by Zambia,” Finnegan said.
He said Zambia should also create a task force to assess the full impact of the global economic crisis on workers.
“In response to the impacts of the global economic crisis on Zambian workers, government should create Task Force to quantify impacts on workers and their families. Government should also develop measures to cushion and mitigate the harsh impacts on Zambian workers and their families; and promote new job creation opportunities and new sectors,” Finnegan said.
“…Ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach in the government’s responses and programmes relating to the global crisis, and mobilising and engaging all key actors in the labour market, including ministry of labour, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and the UN system (including ILO), particularly in private sector development and follow-up actions to the recent indaba.”
And ZFE president Dr George Chabwera warned that an improvement in the world economy would not mean the end of the global economic problems.
Labour minister Austin Liato said the government shall in the next one year embark on labour law reforms.
Labels: LABOUR, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA, ZCTU
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Taxpayers’ money is under threat – ZCTU
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:46:56 AM
TAXPAYERS' money is under threat, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions [ZCTU] has warned. Commenting on the US$2 million contract awarded to RP Capital Partners of Cayman Islands by communication and transport minister Dora Siliya to value ZAMTEL's assets without following procedure, ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba told a press briefing in Kitwe that taxpayers' money was under threat and it was sad that a Cabinet minister could involve herself in such a transaction without following tender procedure.
"ZCTU is concerned with media reports linking the Minister of Transport and Communications Dora Siliya to an alleged act of misconduct involving the award of US$2 million contract to a foreign company to value ZAMTEL's assets," Hikaumba said. "The minister's alleged conduct is a serious case of acting above the law especially that she decided to ignore advice from the Attorney General's chambers and is sending wrong signals about the way the MMD government is handling economic issues."
He urged those in the government to learn from various former government officials that were either appearing before the courts of law or serving jail sentences as a result of having acted in a similar way when they were in power.
Hikaumba said US$2 million [K10.3 billion] was a colossal amount of taxpayers' money to be approved by a minister without following procedure.
He said the entire world was going through a recession and that it was dangerous for Zambia not to exercise restraint in the use of public funds.
"While we agree that ZAMTEL is going through turbulent times, people should not take advantage of the situation and begin to cut deals that will only benefit a few individuals. This is disheartening and should not be allowed in a government that claims to follow laws," Hikaumba said.
However, President Banda on Monday described as nonsense the argument that Siliya was handling the privatisation of ZAMTEL illegally.
President Banda said Siliya was smarter than some of the people criticising her.
But Hikaumba urged the government to be cautious in the way it was handling the privatisation of ZAMTEL given the strategic nature of the company.
He further urged the government to learn from the conduct of some mining investors that simply acquired mines to reap profits and later fled the country.
And Hikaumba opposed the liberalisation of the international gateway because of its strategic nature to the telecommunications industry.
He observed that liberalising the international gateway would expose the country to security risks, stressing the need for ZAMTEL to continue holding the monopoly of the gateway.
And commenting on the revelation by the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) that the country had about 90,000 metric tonnes of non-GMO maize and yet the commodity was being sourced from abroad, Hikaumba said ZCTU was disappointed with the manner the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was handling the marketing of maize.
"We would like to see efficiency in the manner FRA handles the purchase of maize from farmers. They should pay the farmers on time. There is no need to import maize at a higher price from outside when there is locally produced maize at a cheaper price," said Hikaumba.
He also called on the government to address the mealie-meal shortages being experienced in some parts of the country adding that the shortages were a threat to productivity and political stability.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, ZCTU
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Finnegan speaks out on non-unionised workers
By Kelvin Tembo
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]
INTERNATIONAL Labour Organisation (ILO) country representative Gerry Finnegan has called for better conditions of service for the workers without trade union affiliation. Commenting on Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba’s call for the Police Service to have a trade union, Finnegan explained that all workers had the right to freedom of association under the International Labour Convention but that the government had also a right to exclude some sectors, which bordered on security.
He asked the government to offer balanced conditions of service to both its non-trade union affiliate workers and trade union members.
“Lack of a trade union does not mean workers without trade union representation should have poor working conditions. Lack of trade union representation for workers should not create a loophole for them to get poor conditions of service,” he said.
Finnegan said the police had the option of forming associations, which could deal with their welfare and social issues.
“These associations cannot, however, negotiate for conditions of service,” he said.
Finnegan said there was a lot that workers could do for themselves using their own initiatives.
Hikaumba recently called for formation of a trade union to address the poor working conditions in the police service.
Labels: GERRY FINNEGAN, ILO, LABOUR, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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