Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba says his organisation is not forcing Unions to merge with it.
ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba says Unions should realise that the planned merger can be done for a sustainable common goal for the beterment of the unionised members in the country.
Mr. Hikaumba says forcing Unions to merge normally leads to splitting.
He was speaking with ZANIS in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He said Union leaders should also realise that the merger is to allow Unions speak with one voice especially when negotiating for improved conditions of services.
“Merging with us, the mother-body should not be forceful but we plead with our colleagues, the labour leaders, to realise that it ( the merger )will enable us speak with one voice because we realise that forcing Unions to merge leads to splitting,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hikaumba has said negotiations with government for improved allowances such as subsistence, housing, missing lunch, commuted over-time and rural hardship allowances are on course.
He explained that the Union Mother Body is aware of 2009 financial year coming to an end in December saying for this reason the labour movement do not want to leave any stone unturned but taking all the necessary steps with caution during the on-going negotiations.
The ZCTU Chief appealed to civil servants for calm as the Union is taking the negotiations with the seriousness it deserves.
Government awarded a 15 percent payrise to public workers across the board but however could not conclude talks on the remaining allowances that are also part of the improved conditions of service.
Currently, Government pays K50,000 as missing lunch, K40,000 commuted over-time per month and K285,000 subsistence allowances respectively.
ZANIS
Ok as number 1 I want to say Hikaumba has failed the workforce. Period
Ka hikaumba he is a ka sell out for the government
Unless it was Nonde who was in charge og ZCTU will I suport the merger as Hikaumba has been compromised by the Government
The labour movement should have the maximum number of terms that the union president/chairman can hold office.
In Zedi it seems these guys are muyayaya (forever) due to financial benefits which go with the office.
Same stuff over and over, we hear everytime ZCTU negotiating with government unfortunately they are baseless negotiations leading to strikes, no improved conditions
Hikaumba has outlived his effectiveness. His brain has grwon tired and the only way to sustain ZCTU is to vote him out of office. Why should pipo pretend. Simple issue. When GRZ deducted money from striking workers ZTCU and its affiliates should have stat down and came up with a mechanism to pay the owrkers. What have they bin using the contributions for. There has not bin a strike for some time and ZCTU should always make a provision for such.
I agree with the earlier contributers that Hikaumba has lamentably failed the workforce.
But the need to merge at a time like this needs not to be overemphasized.
Nice day to you all