GWANDA town clerk Gilbert Mlilo and mayor Knowledge Ndlovu yesterday made passionate pleas for striking workers to return to work immediately while the issue of their outstanding salaries was being dealt with.
ALBERT NCUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
Mlilo and Ndlovu pleaded with the workers to suspend their industrial action and return to work urging them to “work as a family”.
Council management undertook to pay April salaries in full this month while outstanding salaries would be paid by August. Mlilo told striking workers that the council salary bill stood at $275 000 against a revenue base of under $200 000 a month.
Workers blamed management for failing to listen to their grievances on time.
“We gave a two-week ultimatum to management, but no one cared to listen to us until we went on strike. At one time we were told we were not educated,” said one worker.
After some deliberations, the workers called off the strike on condition that management upholds its promises.
The workers said they would not hesitate to return to the streets if they were ignored.
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Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers’ Union Gwanda branch chairperson Sipho Ndlovu warned of worse protests if the municipality reneged on its undertaking.
“The document we have signed is binding and we will be able to sue council if they disrespect it,” he said.
However, there was division among the striking workers as others felt the protest should have continued.
