From NKOMBO KACHEMBA in Kitwe
UNIONISED workers at Kitwe City Council yesterday went on strike demanding their salary arrears.
A check by a Daily Mail crew found the entrance to the council premises locked. Workers were told to go back home.
But Kitwe Town clerk Bonwell Luanga described the strike as illegal and warned that any worker who will not report for work today will face disciplinary action.
Zambia United Local Authority Workers Union (ZULAWU) vice- secretary for Kitwe branch, Stephen Kaponge said the unionised workers decided to go on strike because of delays by management to pay salaries.
Mr Kaponge said some workers are owed two months arrears and others are owed up to KR 3 million in unpaid wages.
He said the workers are suffering as they are unable to feed their families and want management to address their plight.
Today, we are not allowing unionised workers to report to work.we have gone on a strike, we want management to address us on delayed salaries, Mr Kaponge said.
He also expressed disappointment with Mr Luangas failure to meet union officials and address the matter.
And council management has terminated the contracts of 17 cleaners who were deployed in various markets in the city, citing inefficiency.
Mr Kaponge also said the union is disturbed by the decision to terminate 17 workers when government is working tirelessly to create more jobs.
He said some of the workers whose contracts have been terminated have worked for the local authority for more than 12 years and deserve to be retained.
But Mr Luanga said management is surprised by the stance the union has taken to call for a strike.
He said the strike is illegal because the union has not exhausted all channels with management.
I am urging all workers to report for work tomorrow (today) at 08:00 hours, failure to which we will take disciplinary action, Mr Luanga said.
He said it is unacceptable for the workers to strike when government has already deposited the salaries for some of them.
On the termination of contracts, Mr Luanga said the workers were not performing to expected standards as most markets in the district are dirty and garbage is not collected regularly.
The 17 workers yesterday staged a protest outside the council, demanding that management rescinds its decision.
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