Representatives of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) employees have threatened to down tools if their employer fail to give in to their their salary increment demands–a move likely to cause massive load shedding in the country.
By Lovejoy Mutongwiza and Shorai Murwira
Responding to a 11 point plan issued by their employer on Sunday, Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) and the National Energy Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ) told a joint media briefing held in Harare today that ZESA Chief Executive Officer, Josh Chifamba should meet the workers’ demands, a 75% salary increment failure of which they will down tools.
“Having addressed the raised issues, from the ZESA statement, it is essential to point out that the continued disregard of the law in relation to the 2012 CBA dispute, will plunge ZESA into a crisis, as workers we will down tools.
“Instead of playing to the gallery ZESA should, without delay, comply with the law or risk putting the whole nation into darkness,”said ZEWU General Secretary, Martin Chikuni.
“We shall take measures, including strike action to secure the and interests of our members should continue throwing tantrums in the press, whilst neglecting real issues,” added Chikuni.
ZESA workers are demanding an 75 percent salary increment and allowances across the board, a move that will almost double the power utility’s monthly wage bill currently standing at $22 million.
The workers also want an introduction of new allowances for every permanent employee, chief among them a five-day holiday for six family members at any three-star hotel, full school fees payment for up to four of the employees’ children, “climate” and cellphone allowances.
If met, the demands will have a heavy bearing on electricity consumers, as a tariff increase could be effected to cover additional costs on the payroll.
ZESA’s revenue fluctuates between $53 million and $59 million monthly.
Chikuni dismissed claims by ZESA that the lowest paid employee in grade A11 (a sweeper) is getting $940 (gross), while a junior engineer in grade D2 is getting $4 900.
He said instead, the least paid worker was earning less than $300, which is below the Poverty Datum Line pegged at $700.
