THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) believes it can still sit on the same table with the government and discuss issues affecting their livelihoods such as labour violations and better working conditions this year.
For far too long a time, workers have always complained that government is violating their working conditions.
They also want a living salary, complaining that what they are getting is penury.
Government employees are complaining silently, public health workers are living the country in droves — doctors, surgeons, nurses, nurse aides, anaesthetists, you name them.
One would think that teachers now have a template of raising issues everytime schools are about to be opened.
It’s either they are not ready, they will not report for duty, they will report for duty but not take classes, among others.
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Some have even resorted to extra lessons, with government going to the extent of banning the extra study classes.
ZCTU says workers must form a strong and united front as they present their issues to the employer.
This is because workers are faced with poor wages, deteriorating working conditions and rights due to the shrinking economy and inconsistent government policies in 2024.
Austerity measures are taking a toll on the worker.
Despite the government making some adjustments to the minimum wage a worker must get, the employer is raising the “tight economy” flag.
The workers have no spending power.
“Let us reclaim our position as labour which is the voice of the working class and the poor,” vice-president Valentine Chikosi said in an interview.
“We must set pace for a developmental State we want.
“We can’t take a back seat and leave capital to continue determining the future of millions of Zimbabweans.”
The truth of the matter is that this government will never listen to “mere squeals”.
For too long, teachers have told government that they want their pre-October 2018 US$540 salary restored.
Government has not heeded the call.
Instead, it increased civil servants’ salaries by a few dollars.
Now, most civil servants earn around US$300 — both the ZiG and United States dollar component.
Other than paying utility bills and swiping a few items in retail outlets, the ZiG is as good as useless.
ZCTU says workers must “fight for fair wages, better working conditions, job security, employment creation, affordable quality healthcare and education, among other social services”.
But who will ensure all those conditions are met when most businesses and mines in the country are being run by a certain section of the so-called “all-weather friends” who do not give a hoot about them.
There are complaints everyday about workers being beaten up, threatened with guns or set dogs on by that population, but the government has been quiet about it.
Healthworkers have raised similar poor working conditions such as working without protective gear, but the employer, which is government, does not listen.
It pretends that it will do something about it, but that all ends as rhetoric.
Business has raised complaints about the non-functioning currency, but the regime is adamant, claiming it is actually pushing for full de-dollarisation.
They do not listen to anyone.
They will flog even a dead horse hoping it will win a race.
Tell them that the horse is dead, you are labelled a sell-out, and the ngoma brigade can even come and set base outside your house and sing all night denouncing you.
The government dumped the Zimdollar last after its value had been heavily eroded against major currencies and replaced it with the ZiG, which has since failed the test.
Facts will always remain facts.
There are things that do not work in this country that need to be fixed and it starts right from the top.
We hope in the new year, the bureaucrats will listen to the concerns of the workers.
We hope they will have so much vigour in uplifting the living standards of the worker as much as they are doing with extending the term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to 2030.