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Sifiso Ndlovu

Harare Bureau
Civil servants’ unions, including the largest teachers’ union, have distanced themselves from threatened industrial action by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe with most of the workers’ representatives yesterday telling the Raymond Majongwe-led union that if it calls for a strike it would strike alone.

PTUZ has threatened to embark on a strike in the coming weeks citing lack of negotiations with the government, delays in the payment of bonuses, shifting of pay dates and late remittance of union subscriptions by Treasury among other issues.

Other unions said there was no more reason for the strike since most of the challenges they had with their employer had been addressed.

The government, which is operating on a shoe-string budget, has paid most civil servants their bonuses with those remaining expected to get their 13th cheque for 2014 next week.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira this week moved in swiftly and appointed a new leader for the government team to the salary negotiations, a development meant to facilitate dialogue between the government and its workers.

The appointment of Simon Masanga was announced when the minister met more than 10 civil servants’ unions under the banner Apex Council on Wednesday.

PTUZ yesterday said plans to embark on a strike were underway with the date set to be announced on January 27.

The union urged civil servants to “put pressure” on other leaders who saw no reason for the industrial action.

“We didn’t agree (after meeting Minister Mupfumira) with colleagues wanting to abandon the strike agenda because the government has started paying bonuses,” PTUZ posted on their Facebook page yesterday.

“We were shocked by the position taken by some of our colleagues in the education sector not to go on strike claiming that their members said they see no reason for taking that route.

“We’re convinced that this isn’t the true reflection of the views of teachers in Zimbabwe irrespective of affiliation but boardroom decisions of the leadership after consultations with their handlers, not with their members.”

Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe chief executive Manuel Nyawo said a strike should only come if there is deadlock between the government and the workers.

“We met the minister for the first time and presented issues affecting us as civil servants. This wasn’t the proper platform we only wanted to sensitise her on the task ahead for her because we know that such matters are best tabled at the National Joint Negotiating Council.”

He said the chairman for the NJNC, which has been dormant since June last year, was yet to be chosen.

“Before that someone somewhere and for reasons better known to him is already deciding to fire bullets,” Nyawo said.

“We don’t want our members to be caught on the wrong side of the law. It’s only prudent that we take a combative and aggressive stance after the government deliberately chooses to ignore us. To the PTUZ we say strike alone and we’re not part of you.”

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said his organisation would not be “railroaded” by the PTUZ to embark on a premature industrial action.

“It looks like it’s no longer a labour issue for him (Majongwe) but a project being pushed by someone,” he said.

“Our issues, some of them have been addressed while some are being addressed and we saw no point in embarking on a strike. Dialogue is about to begin and on Monday we’re meeting with the government side to see how we can resuscitate the NJNC.”