ZIMBABWE: Threat of industrial mass action

Zimbabwe's trade union movement has threatened to embark on mass action if employers do not award the workers a 20 percent cost of living adjustment by the end of this month.

Nomore Sibanda, information officer of the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) told IRIN on Tuesday the rise in the price of commodities prompted the call. "The demand was made to employers in December last year," Sibanda said. "While some employers have adjusted the workers' wages following our demand, very few have actually come close to the 20 percent we have demanded, while others have not bothered to respond."

A representative of the Confederation of Zimbabwean Industries, however, told IRIN the ZCTU's call is "unfortunate" in view of an agreement between employer bodies, government representatives and the ZCTU in February that issues pertaining to wage increases should be dealt with at individual workplaces.

"The agreement, to which the ZCTU was party, stipulates that should deadlocks arise, these should be referred to the process of arbitration," Peter Kunjeko said, adding that mass action would be detrimental to an economy already in difficulties.

Sibanda said the ZCTU on Monday had sent a letter to the employers' body outlining their demand. "We have also forwarded our demand to the ministry of labour as we believe the adjustment should be gazetted to make it binding on all employers. The form of action will depend on both the
response from the employers and the decision of the general membership of the ZCTU," Sibanda said.

In the meantime, Sibanda confirmed to IRIN that the ZCTU will hold a special congress before July this year to discuss the formation of a political movement to challenge President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF in next year's elections.

Sibanda said the 400,00-member ZCTU is part of the broad movement of the 49-member National Working People's Convention that is planning the launch of the new movement. The convention consists of a cross- section of the population, including students, women, churches, professionals and trade union organisations.

The ZCTU has in the last two years led several nationwide protests against price and tax increases to pressure the government to alleviate the worsening economic situation of workers.

In November, a 67 percent increase in fuel prices prompted the ZCTU to stage a strike which crippled industry and transport services and left one person dead after the protests turned violent. Mugabe's government responded with a six-month ban on strikes, which Sibanda said the ZCTU is ready to defy should the membership decide on industrial action.