GMB workers on strike over salaries

Philemon Jambaya

Grain Marketing Board employees downed tools on Wednesday, citing incapacitation, Zim Now can report.

In a letter directed to the chief executive seen by Zim Now, employees said GMB failed to review salaries despite being awarded a minimum salary of US$350 through arbitration.

The workers complained that the employer has turned a deaf ear on their pleas, defending themselves that the board has not reviewed salaries.

Furthermore, GMB has not been paying farmers and some of the disgruntled farmers have been promised that they will be paid by Independence Day.

“We wish to advise that employees are incapacitated and can no longer afford to report for work consistently due to the meagre salaries that they are getting.

“The incapacitation came as a result as the employer failed to review salaries despite that the employees were awarded a minimum salary of US$350.00 through arbitration. We have sought dialogue several times but the employer has cited inadequate funding or no mandate from the board to review salaries.

“The need for urgent salary review cannot be over emphasised since the current salaries have been eroded and employees have not been spared by the continued increase in the cost of living,” read part of the letter authored by Workers Union president, one D Chigogo dated March 29.

He said that prices of basic commodities are in sync with United States dollar parallel market rates, rentals and school fees have also been pegged in USD, which worsens their plight.

“The employer has taken our tolerance for granted.

“There is a limit to which employees can endure. Surely, how do you expect an employee earning ZWL$29 000.00 to report for work every day as the salary cannot cover transport costs.

“Through their representatives, employees have opted to stop the processing of this meagre salaries but employer went on to pay against their will.

“Management is not respecting our representatives, and as such, employees have resorted to come to Head Office on Thursday 30 March 2023 at 08:30am, so that they could explain the difficulties they are facing and ask why the employer is failing to review salaries since July 2022,” further reads the letter.

Controversy has always trailed GMB like a shadow and it has been scandal-ridden.

Efforts to get a comment from the chief executive hit a brick wall as he did not answer his mobile at the time of writing.