Midlands Bureau
BATA Shoe Company workers at its Gweru factory have gone on strike to press management to pay the salary increment awarded to them by arbitrators in 2010.
The grades A to H workers are owed a total of $178,000 in housing and transport allowances for the period between July and December 2010.Isaac Thebethebe the Zimbabwe Leather Shoe and Allied workers Union said the workers’ representatives and management were engaged in a series of meetings yesterday aimed at resolving the dispute.

“Bata workers and management went for voluntary arbitration and the workers won the case.  The arbitrators ruled that the company was to pay workers their transport and housing allowances for the period between July and December of 2010,” said Thebethebe.

He said workers downed tools on Tuesday after management refused to meet the workers’ representatives to discuss the outstanding payment.

“The Tuesday meeting to address the issue failed to take place after management indicated to the workers’ representatives that they could not attend. The workers felt management was not serious and decided to go on strike. On Wednesday, management and the workers’ council had a series of meetings. Management told the workers’ representatives that workers had to return to work first before they could discuss the issue of salaries. Workers committee members tried to tell the workers to give dialogue a chance but the workforce maintained its position of continuing with the strike,” he said.

Thebethebe said the workers now wanted management to pay all the outstanding money including the housing and transport allowances awarded to them last year through arbitration.

The workers were awarded $37 per month as transport allowance and a $47 per month housing allowance.

“The company through the Tanners and Shoe Manufacturers Association (TASMA), appealed against last year’s arbitration ruling and the case is now before the High Court,” said Thebethebe.

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