GWERU — A major showdown is looming between Gweru City Council and its employees after the latter demanded a 50% salary hike which could push the local authority’s salary bill to $18 million against a budget of $10 million.
Report by Stephen Chadenga
The workers have since produced a position paper outlining their demands and presented it to council. They are demanding at least $323 basic salary and allowances of 55% for the least paid worker. In its 2013 budget, council had allocated.
$10 million towards salaries. On January 30 this year, council acknowledged receipt of the workers’ demands, but insisted that negotiations should be confined to the 2013 budget figures.
“A letter has been received from the Gweru City Council Workers’ Committee in the following terms: Salary negotiations 2012-2013 . . . Position paper PDL (poultry datam line) which is at $500, Basic $323, Allowance 55%,” reads a council report shown to NewsDay.
“The salaries and allowances budget allocation ($10 million) represents 32% of the total revenue expenditure, which is the maximum stipulated by the parent ministry (Local Government).
“The employees’ position paper’s financial implications amount to $18 194 192 which is 168% of the salaries and allowances budget allocation. This is $7 348 047 or 68 % more than the budget allocation for salaries and allowances of $10 846 125 and would consume 53% of the total revenue expenditure budget of $34 045 611,” council noted.
Both mayor Tedious Chimombe and town clerk Daniel Matawu could not be reached for comment yesterday, but workers’ representatives vowed to press on with their salary demands.
