Civil servants’ representatives have rejected the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) proposal from the government during a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting held on September 20.
The Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) initially met with government officials on September 11, where the government presented an offer that civil servants turned down. It was agreed that the government would consult their higher-ups and provide feedback in the next NJNC meeting.
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However, during the recent meeting, the government reiterated the same rejected offer, leading to a deadlock in negotiations. In a statement, ZCPSTU announced that they have not accepted the offer and are urging the government to enhance their proposal. They also resolved to escalate the issue to higher authorities for further discussions.
Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) criticized ZCPSTU for allegedly negotiating in bad faith and neglecting the true interests of civil servants. ARTUZ claimed that NJNC salary negotiations are closed off and lack genuine representation, asserting that civil servants deserve a fair wage through authentic collective bargaining, as outlined in the constitution.
