Nothing came out of the fresh salary negotiations between the Apex Council and the government yesterday as the latter presented the same $240 million resource envelope which the civil servants rejected and resolved to appeal to principals of the inclusive government.
The Apex Council snubbed the offer again, and has resolved to appeal to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
As a result, civil servants were urged to go back to work while waiting for the inclusive government principals to decide their fate over the salary negotiations.
The civil servants, however, accepted the $240 million package that will see government increasing their transport and housing allowances, but without salary reviews.
The Apex Council has given a deadline of July this year to renegotiate their salary reviews.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe blamed the failure of the negotiations on internal divisions rocking civil servants.
“We cannot enter into a battle with divided intentions.
We have to fight on our own as negotiators and reach an agreed point then we face the government, otherwise we are fighting a lost battle,” said Majongwe.
