Elia NtaliHarare- The Apex council which represents Civil Servants has announced that they will embark on a strike within the next 14 days if government does not meet their wage demands.
In a notice signed by Apex chairperson, Cecilia Gambe, the workers said the collective job action has been necessitated by the Government’s continued failure to address its plight in areas such as salaries, housing and other working conditions.
“The Apex Council representing the entire civil service hereby serve notice of collective job action within 14 days from the date of this letter. The reason for this step is premised on the incapacitation of our members and the failure by government to address the same” said Gambe
“The incapacitation comes in the wake of the erosion of our static salaries due to the sky-rocketing cost of living. Despite numerous meetings being held between the government and staff associations, there has not been any tangible results to date.”
The plight of civil servants has been worsened by an increase in bus fares owing to the shortage of fuel with long winding queues the order of the day in Harare.
Addressing Journalists after a meeting with the Apex council on Monday, acting Public Service Minister July Moyo said the crisis cantered government was going to reveal its offers based on demands placed before it by civil servants.
“The statutory body, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) will fix the final negotiated agreements on the public service sector once the government has given them an offer,” Moyo said.
Of late the Government has had to contend with dissatisfaction from its workers, Doctors are currently on strike with teachers threatening to down tools.