Zimpapers Logo

Felex Share Herald Reporter
Civil servants say they are now ready for salary negotiations with Government after they last Friday agreed on the nine representatives required at the National Joint Negotiating Council. Arguments over the team centred on the problem of three teachers unions, with one union representing all other civil servants. Teachers are easily the largest block of civil servants.

The NJNC is a platform that brings to the negotiating table civil servants’ unions and Government.
This comes after Government last week ordered the 12 civil servants unions to end their leadership wrangles and second nine people to the NJNC for social dialogue.
The unions met on Friday and agreed that the Zimbabwe Teachers Association Union, which has the largest membership countrywide, would contribute three representatives and the Public Service Association four negotiators.

PSA represents the rest of the Government workers not in the education sector.
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe have one negotiator each.
Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday confirmed the unions had put their house in order and were ready for engagement with the employer soon.

He said they had retained the status quo by including most members who were in the previous negotiating team.
“After the meeting every union signed the letter that was forwarded to Government and we are now in a position to engage them (Government) anytime,” he said.

“The list includes myself, Richard Gundane and John Mlilo from Zimta, Cecelia Alexander, Emmanuel Tichareva, Masimba Madzimu and John Tagara (PSA). Manuel Nyawo (TUZ) and Raymond Majongwe (PTUZ) completes the list.”

Mr Ndlovu said David Dzatsunga of the College Lectures Association of Zimbabwe, who had assumed leadership after the expiry of the term of the Tendai Chikowore-led executive was not part of the negotiating team.

“We cannot allow people with insignificant following to lead the rest of the civil servants,” he said.
“That is the reason why last week they (COLAZ) had caused confusion by rushing to submit a list of 12 members to Government instead of the agreed nine and we are glad that that scandal failed and we are now moving together in unity.”

According to Statutory Instrument 141 of 1997, civil service unions are supposed to submit names of nine representatives to the NJNC.
TUZ chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo said they were now waiting to hear from Government on the date for salary negotiations and fulfilment of the promise made by President Mugabe two months ago.

“The issue of negotiators is a foregone issue and we are now waiting for the token that they promised us,” he said.
“The token is not negotiated as it is Government which knows how much they want to give us.

“Of importance to us are salary negotiations that will tell us how much we will be earning come January 2014.
“We hope that since we have resubmitted the names as required, Government will soon be calling us for dialogue.”

Civil servants want a salary threshold of US$540 for the lowest paid employee in B1 Grade and 30 percent of basic salary as rural allowance.
The lowest paid Government worker is now getting US$297 including allowances.

PTUZ secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe said while they had agreed to the list of nine negotiators, Government should increase the number of negotiators as the number of civil servants unions had increased since 1997.

“We cannot be cocoons in a statutory instrument that was created a couple of years ago, in a different political and economic environment,” he said.
“Government itself has registered more than 12 unions to represent the workers and do you think there is a union that does not want representation at the negotiating table?
“We have agreed to the new list because we do not want to seem to be stalling any negotiations. No one should take advantage of the bickering not to effect an increment.”

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche was last week quoted as saying Government would effect a “token increment” before the end of year as promised by President Mugabe.

He said consultations with various ministries were going on in view of the “token increment”  and salary adjustments in January next year.