/ 13 April 1999

ZIM PAY PROTEST THREATENED

ZIMBABWE’s powerful labour movement on Monday threatened mass action against employers who have failed to award staff a 20% wage increase to cushion them against rising living costs. Morgan Tsvangirai, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, told a news conference that some three-quarters of Zimbabwean companies awarded their employees the 20% adjustment last year, but warned that the defiant ones will face the wrath of the trade unions if they do not act soon. “We are giving them up to end of this month to quickly give out this 20%. After May Day [May 1], ZCTU will organise a national action against those companies, those industries that have not given the 20%,” Tsvangirai warned.