Zimbabwe’s civil servants have petitioned Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai seeking his help in resolving a long-running salary dispute with the Public Service Commission which said it had no money to award the 100 percent salary increments demanded by the civil servants, APA learned in Harare on Thursday.

The Apex Council, an umbrella body of all unions representing government workers in Zimbabwe, last month called for a five-day strike to press for higher salaries and better working conditions after the collapse of negotiations between the council and the Public Service Commission.

The head of the Civil Service Apex Council, Tendai Chikowore, said in a letter written to Tsvangirai that the government workers were unhappy about the current impasse over an acceptable salary review and wanted the premier to intervene in the dispute.

“We, the Civil Service Apex Council, are writing to you because we are convinced that it is the current government’s policy to restore social service delivery in Zimbabwe to optimum levels.

We are convinced that you deeply appreciate and embrace the observation that, the country’s civil service carries the prime responsibility of delivering such services and as such deserves improved salaries and conditions of service,” said Chikowore.

The unions want the lowest paid worker to be paid $538 a month from the current $250 as well as an upward review of transport and housing allowances.

Source African Press Agency

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