There was drama at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) yesterday morning when hordes of anti-riot police sealed off the company’s headquarters to block seven fired workers from entering the premises.
by NQOBILE BHBEHE
More than 15 riot police officers and NRZ security personnel sealed off all entry points to the ailing parastatal’s headquarters, as they kept a close eye on the seven fired workers who were representing the more than 400 axed employees.
The seven ex-workers intended to confront management over retrenchment packages and 24 months’ salary arrears. More than 400 employees were fired by the parastatal recently, taking advantage of the July 17 Supreme Court ruling allowing workers to be dismissed on three months’ notice.
Early this month, scores of furious workers had to be blocked by the company security guards from gaining entry into the firm’s premises by force, while others found their way into the building through a car park.
According to a nine-point document seen by Southern Eye detailing the agreement reached on November 9 between the sacked workers and NRZ, the “payment plan (for retrenchment packages) will be advised in due course”.
The fired workers have since formed an organisation called Association of Railways Terminated Employees (ART).
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The association’s information and publicity secretary Ray Mudavanhu told Southern Eye outside the NRZ headquarters that they were surprised that NRZ called riot police to deal with them.
“We had intended to inquire about our packages from management. We had also made an appointment with the pensions fund. So on leaving the management section heading to the pensions fund, we were confronted by the riot police,” Mudavanhu said.
“Police said they were instructed to remove us from the building by management. Why are we not being given our money? They are now using the riot police to break the law.”
He said since termination of employment in July, no single fired worker had been paid.
“They planned to terminate our contracts; they should have also planned how to pay us on time as well. We don’t want to be here,” Mudavanhu said.
Mudavanhu said the ex-workers were owed 24-month salaries and were currently being paid November 2014 salaries. “Management is refusing to give a breakdown of how much they owe each individual. But from what I know, the unbanked salaries range from $8 000 to $10 000 and that’s for artisans. This is despite a payment plan worked out by the association and management,” he said.
According to the nine-point document, NRZ gave deadlines on payment of various outstanding funds.
“Payment of balances of November 2014 annual bonuses: The bonus will be paid together with the November 2014 salary,” part of the document read.
“Payment of pro-rata 2015 annual bonus: The bonus will be paid as and when the serving employees receive their bonus.”
On payment of the salary backlog, the document states that “as previously promised, the salaries for the period November 2014 to July 2015, including for August and September 2015, where applicable, will be paid as the same time as payments are made for in-service personnel”.
NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati downplayed the presence of riot police, saying “everything is under control”.
“Yes, there was riot police, but everything is under control. The workers finally met with management and retrenchment packages are being worked out,” he said.
