THE cash-strapped Gweru City Council owes workers $2,6 million in outstanding salaries, bonuses and back pay, it has been revealed.
BY Stephen Chadenga
According to documents seen by Southern Eye that were submitted to an arbitrator handling the pay dispute, the council has not been paying employees since October last year.
Workers were not happy that the council could not provide them with protective clothing.
“Claimants are several employees of the respondent (Gweru City Council) employed in various positions and at various levels and grades,” part of the documents read.
“Respondent has since failed to reward employees over a period stretching from October to December 2014 resulting in arrears of $ 2 606 357,61.
“Further to that claimants are claiming undisclosed amounts of back pay for the period stretching from April to July 2014 together with 2014 annual bonuses.
“The claimants are also alleging non-provision of protective clothing by the respondent.”
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The council admitted in response to the application by workers that it had not been paying salaries on time because of acute financial challenges.
“It was further submitted that the respondent has been incapacitated to the extent of not being in a position to meet legal obligations to pay salaries timely,” part of the council’s response reads.
The independent arbitrator, Elisha Ganyani, has since ordered the local authority to settle arrears by end of this month.
The council was ordered to provide protective clothing to employees in line with a collective bargaining agreement for town councils.
Last week, council workers took to the streets demanding payment of outstanding salaries and bonuses.
Workers took advantage of the tea break on Thursday to stage the protest, waving placards that attacked “corrupt” council management and councillors.
Some of the placards denounced finance committee chairperson, councillor Albert Chirau, accusing him of corruption.
Chirau recently appeared before the Gweru courts facing allegations of defrauding the MDC-T-controlled local authority.
Council workers’ committee spokesperson Cornelia Selipiwe told hundreds of workers gathered outside municipal officers that employees were fed up with management for failing to address their grievances.
