WORKERS from under-performing companies in Gweru will today converge at two different venues to commemorate May Day as the two splinter ZCTU factions compete for relevance. Stephen Chadenga Own Correspondent
The George Nkiwane-led ZCTU will celebrate the day at Mkoba Stadium while the Lovemore Matombo-led splinter union will meet at Bata club.
ZCTU will observe the day under the theme “Workers Intensify the Struggle, No, to market flexibility” at a time major firms in Gweru are operating below capacity while others have shut down.
Former giant shoe manufacturer Bata, which used to employ close to 5 000 workers during its peak days, now has a workforce of 1 500 and has been dogged by operational challenges that have seen employees downing tools in recent weeks.
Others like Zimcast closed shop a few years back while Zimglass, which used to be among the employers of first choice, is now a shadow of itself and has failed to pay workers full salaries for the past six years.
Workers who spoke to Southern Eye said it was disheartening that the two divided ZCTUs were failing to find common ground for their benefit.
“It is quite unfortunate that workers’ unions are divided at a time we (workers) are feeling the pinch of the current economic meltdown,” motor mechanic James Chiseko said.
Tailor Chipo Gumbo said she would not bother to attend either of the two gatherings until ZCTU puts its house in order.
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The ZCTU split in 2011 in the run-up to an elective congress.
