Civil service strike gathers steam

By Lance Guma
09 February 2010

A strike by civil servants protesting their poor wages continued to gather steam on Tuesday after Monday’s slow start unions have said. Tendai Chikowore who heads the APEX Council that represents teachers, college lecturers and other public sector workers said the majority of their members are now on strike. She said they wanted government to respond to their demands for improved wages and if this did not happen they would continue to enforce the strike.

Civil servants want their wages increased from the current US$150 to US$630 and have since rejected a 10 percent offer from the government. Negotiations broke down last week Tuesday and a rally by civil servants on Friday at the Harare Gardens effectively launched the strike. Takavafira Zhou the President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe is hopeful 100 percent of state workers will be on strike by the end of the week. He also accused government of treating them ‘like slaves.’

A teacher in Harare who spoke to Newsreel said most teachers had gone on strike except for those who receive incentives from School Development Associations. These mostly Group A schools are supplementing the wages paid to their teachers by topping up their salaries. Tuesday’s usual hustle and bustle of commuters on the roads going to work was replaced by a general quiet and deserted roads as workers stayed home.

The strike has mainly affected public schools, hospitals, government departments and the courts. The trial of senior MDC official Roy Bennett for example was postponed on Monday after court officials did not turn up.

Meanwhile Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro is quoted as saying government’s 10 percent offer remains on the table. He said consultations are still ongoing and when these are concluded the government will call for another meeting with union representatives.