Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
EMPLOYEES of giant shoe company and manufacturer, Bata Shoe Company in Gweru, yesterday went on strike demanding that their grievances be met before they can return to work.

The strike follows a demonstration which the workers staged two weeks ago demanding, among other things, a review of housing and transport allowances, Christmas bonus and an attempt by management to divide the workers’ committee.

The workers also accused the company’s managing director, Ronjoy Sengupta of using abusive language and being racist.

Workers’ committee chairperson, Isaac Wandira confirmed the strike but declined to comment.

“I can confirm the strike but I cannot comment further,” he said.

However, sources at the company said management had been given up to the end of this month to resolve the impasse after they asked to be given a grace period to wait for the company’s managing director, Sengupta, to return from a foreign trip.

However, by yesterday Sengupta had not returned and management had not engaged the workers on the way forward. This prompted the workers to embark on a fully-fledged strike.

When The Chronicle arrived at the company premises, workers could be seen milling around the factory while some were sitting on the lawn.

The other issue highlighted by workers when they embarked on a demonstration two weeks ago is the absence of a Works Council at the company.

The Works Council is a collective bargaining body which comprises management and workers.

Employees also accused Sengupta of shifting goalposts on the need to increase their housing and transport allowances which are both pegged at $11. They want housing allowance increased to $50.

Sengupta, the employees alleged, had refused to engage them over the issue.

The management also stands accused of dividing workers by influencing the formation of two workers’ committees which represent employees separately. This, the workers said, was despite working for the same employer, having the same objectives and grievances.

“We agreed to unite,” said the workers.

There are two workers’ committees with one representing low grade workers while the other represents middle management employees.

The workers also accused management of not paying them a Christmas bonus which had been promised to be paid in January.

Efforts to get comment from management were futile as they were said to be locked in a meeting.

The company employs more than 1,400 workers.