We want our money! – Defiant State workers

Source: We want our money! – Defiant State workers – NewZimbabwe 22/06/2016

A CIVIL service strike now looms after a meeting between government workers and three cabinet ministers Wednesday failed to reach an agreement over plans to delay to July, payment of June salaries.

Government workers have rejected proposals by the Finance Ministry to pay teachers and health workers their June salaries next month on July 7 and 14 respectively.

Pay days for the police and the army have also been delayed to the end of June with government saying it is trying to raise the cash.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa and his public service and health colleagues Prisca Mupfumira and Dr David Parirenyatwa met union bosses in Harare Wednesday but no agreement was reached.

The head of civil service unions emerged from the meeting to declare that government workers expect their June salaries “in June”.

“As workers, we have remained with the position that we have been sent with our members and we say that salaries should be paid on the due traditional dates.

“We still hold on to that positionexpecting their June salaries this month,” said Apex Council leader Cecelia Alexander.

“Our reasons for making this demand are there are penalties that we will incur as a result of late payment of salaries, which penalties will be our liability as workers.

“By the end of the month, our transport allowance will be spent and we will not be able to travel to and from work. We also face the prospect of being evicted from our rented accommodation.”

Minister Mupfumira said another meeting would be held next Monday.

“We have come up with certain decisions, which we are going to consult our various constituencies. The unions are going to consult their constituencies and we will also be consulting.

“As such, we have resolved to meet on Monday at 4:30pm to map the way forward together,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has since said that its members would go on strike over the pay delay.

“Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) hereby notifies its members of a pending strike. It has come to the attention of the association that the employer is not intending to pay teachers their June 2016 salaries,” the union said in a statement.

“As such the association has resolved that all its members should down their tools as from 22 June if the employer does not change the pay date to a date in June.”

The union said it had lost patience with the government.

“Comrades let us all stop delivering service as from Wednesday 22 June 2016. Enough is enough. Please forward this message to every teacher you care about,” said ZIMTA.