Workers at Waverley Blankets, in Graniteside industrial area, Harare, have gone on strike.
The strike action comes after the company refused to comply with an arbitration outcome that ordered all textile employers to increase their workers’ salaries to a minimum of US$184 per month.
<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012361/waverley-blankets-workers-strike-over-low-salaries">NewsDay</a> reported that the National Employment Council (NEC) of the Textile Manufacturing Industry recently said any deadlock on wage negotiations in the sector would now be resolved through voluntary arbitration as agreed by the parties. It said:
<blockquote>
Accordingly, the arbitral tribunal awarded that the minimum wage be US$184 with the same percentage differential applying across all grades/levels.
That all companies in the textile manufacturing industry shall pay 45% of minimum wages in United States dollars and the remaining balance of 55% shall be paid in local currency, i.e. Zimbabwe dollar, at the prevailing official exchange rate, at the date of processing.
For the avoidance of doubt, the official exchange rate refers to the RBZ [Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe] auction rate.
</blockquote>
Waverley Blankets’ Managing Director reportedly applied to NEC seeking exemption from paying the wages agreed during arbitration which the Council declined. NEC wrote back:
<blockquote>
It should be noted that your application for exemption was considered and declined.
In other words, it was turned down or rejected and, therefore, there is no pending application for exemption before the NEC.
In the circumstance, the status quo of the arbitral award is still in force until it is set aside by a competent court.
</blockquote>
Waverley Blankets employees have vowed to continue striking until the company complies with the arbitration outcome.
Workers in both the private and public sectors are clamouring for United States dollar salaries as most goods and services including fuel are being sold exclusively in foreign currency.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Waverley Blankets Workers Down Tools Over Low Salaries

Public prosecutors across the country are planning to go on strike starting on 20 April to push their employer, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), to restore their 2018 salaries.
According to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/prosecutors-demand-us900-salary-ahead-of-planned-strike-npa-threatens-dismissal/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>, the pay entry level for a junior prosecutor in 2018 was US$899.
Currently, junior prosecutors earn ZW$100 000, which is equivalent to US$100, plus an additional U$200 government allowance.
Prosecutors are accusing the NPA of neglecting the welfare of low-ranking staffers while senior law officers in the grade of chief or provincial public prosecutors have numerous benefits.
Chief or provincial public prosecutors reportedly earn in the range of ZWL$2 million and ZWL$3 million.
They get fuel coupons for their allocated double cab vehicles, Isuzus, Toyota Fortuners, or Ford Everest.
The Prosecutors’ Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) notified their employer of their intention to strike in a letter dated 5 April 2023.
PAZ demanded that the NPA urgently address concerns or face a nationwide strike starting on 20 April. Wrote PAZ:
<blockquote>
This serves as formal notice to engage in collective job action in terms of section 104 of the Labour Act.
This is also based on a poll that has been endorsed by members who cast votes.
We also take cognisance of the fact that we do not fall under any of the exceptions which ban employees from engaging in collective job action.
We appreciate that the grounds for giving such notice must be matters of a dispute of interest as required by law.
</blockquote>
The issues prosecutors want to be addressed include salary review based on 2018 rates, payment of responsibility and retention allowances for public prosecutors who head stations, and promotions of deserving individuals. Said PAZ:
<blockquote>
Hence our position is that if the above issues are not attended to within 14 days as required by the law, public prosecutors will engage in collective job action on the 20th of April 2023.
</blockquote>
However, NPA Acting Secretary Tafadzwa Mupariwa, representing Acting Prosecutor-General Nelson Mutsonziwa, warned the prosecutors of unspecified action if the strike goes ahead. He said:
<blockquote>
The Authority notes that the notice is fatally defective at law and therefore a nullity. The PAZ has been advised.
In light of the defects in the notice for industrial action, be advised that any industrial action based on that defective notice is unlawful.
</blockquote>
Mupariwa said the NPA was working on improving the conditions of service and the general welfare of staffers. He said:
<blockquote>
These include the provision of station vehicles, whose pilot project has seen the distribution of 19 brand-new Isuzu single-cab vehicles.
The next stage is now the provision of vehicles and conditions of service for prosecutors in charge of stations.
This is a phased approach and we hope to equip all the stations progressively.
</blockquote>
The NPA said engagements with Treasury were ongoing with a view to a 100% salary increment effective 01 April 2023.
It said talks with local councils would see prosecutors allocated housing stands.
Sector-specific allowances were also being tabled for adoption, the NPA said.
In 2022, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/some-prosecutors-losing-their-minds-due-to-drug-abuse/">the NPA said drug and alcohol abuse among public prosecutors was so rampant</a> that some were losing their minds.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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