Zimbabwe unions threaten strikes

Zimbabwe unions threaten strikes

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S main labour union Tuesday threatened to call nationwide strikes and demonstrations within three months if the minimum wage was not raised above the poverty datum line.

At a rally to mark May Day, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo surprised some when he repeated the government’s mantra that there are businesses that are taking advantage of the economic crisis to hike prices, thereby making super profits.

Matombo said workers would also demand free access to Aids drugs, the repealing of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) as well as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), among others, warning: “If that fails, the workers will carry out their mandate in the next three months.”

Matombo said whereas the PDL stands at $1,5 million, the average wage in all sectors is $200 000, thereby forcing workers to find other sources of income to sustain their families.

He charged that today’s aggregated wages are below that of 1965.

The union leader accused President Robert Mugabe’s government of dishonesty in its dealings with other partners in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum – which brings together labour, government and industry -- resulting in failure by parties to sign a social contract.

He said: “It should be noted that the TNF is a non-legislated tripartite negotiation chamber set-up to discuss economic and social policy measures for sustainable development.

“The government on the other hand believes they can use the TNF as the carrot to brutalise workers. We have failed to sign the protocol precisely because of the intransigence, dithering and procrastination of the other social partners.”

Matombo used his Workers’ Day address to also rail at businesses who have been raising prices, echoing similar protests by the Zimbabwe government which has threatened to jail business executives.

“While some businesses are making a profit by hiking their products at parallel market level, they are taking advantage of the political situation by treating workers as given slaves for profit making,” he blasted.

Zimbabwe is going through its worst economic recession in history, with inflation topping 2 200 percent. The country’s unemployment levels have shot to over 75 percent.

Unions and opposition officials accuse President Robert Mugabe of mishandling the economy, but the 83-year-old leader blames the crisis on sanctions imposed by Western countries including the European Union, the United States and Australia.
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