MORE than 10000 Zimbabwean postal and telecommunications workers called off their strike on Thursday after the government doubled its offer of a wage hike from 15% to 30%. The workers closed down post offices throughout the country on Tuesday demanding a 45% pay rise. The postal service “decided in the national interest to award a 30% salary increase” in consultation with the government. Gift Chimanikire, union leader for the postal workers, called on the Posts and Telecommunications staff to resume duty on Thursday. But the union, which says 30% is far below the inflation rate of 50%, is still seeking 100% increases in transport and telephone use allowances.
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