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TUCTA in new strike ultimatum
By Staff writer
6th June 2010
TUCTA president Omari Ayoub
The Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to issue its stand on workers minimum salary increment, threatening industrial action if a response is not forthcoming.
The order is contained in the trade unions Workers Councils resolutions reached at its emergency meeting held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The trade union also vowed to take court action against Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development Prof Juma Kapuya for disrupting the notice on salary increment during his press conference on April 30 this year.
At the press conference, Prof Kapuya disrupted the notice on minimum wage issued by his predecessor, John Chiligati in 2007.
The seven-day ultimatum was, however, directed to the Minister of State in the Presidents Office (Public Service Management) Hawa Ghasia.
Addressing the press after the Workers Council yesterday, TUCTA president Omari Ayoub said the trade union would continue protecting workers rights, including safeguarding their interests.
We give the minister seven days with effect from Monday up to June 14 to tell workers about the government stand on minimum wage. If she defies the ultimatum, we will have no choice other resolving to holding a nationwide strike, he said.
Ayoub quoted the countrys constitution, saying the mother law bestows upon every citizen the right to employment, adding that every working individual had the right to proper pay.
He said the Council analysed the speech given by President Jakaya Kikwete when addressing Dar es Salaam regional elders recently. He said the delegates were not comfortable with the presidents speech.
There has a been a longstanding workers outcry over poor pay, unproportional income tax slashed from the salaries and poor terminal benefits offered by the pension funds upon workers retirement.
Ayoub said it was unfair for the president to use threatening and demeaning language upon TUCTA leaders and the entire working cadre.
The Council would like to inform the president that the language he employed was improper because TUCTA leaders are individuals elected to the posts legally, he said.
He said President Kikwete did not treat TUCTA secretary general Nicholaus Mgaya fairly since whatever was said or done by him (Mgaya) had all the blessings of TUCTA.
The president treated Mgaya as if the demands made by him were personal, he added. Apart from demanding for better terminal benefits and reduction of taxes slapped on salaries TUCTA has been demanding that workers minimum wage be raised to sh315,000.
In April, the President lambasted TUCTA leaders, saying their demands were hard to implement due to the small financial capacity of the government.
Instead, the president appealed to the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) to go back to the negotiating table as the best strategy for solving the long- standing workers demands.
President Kikwete also assured all workers that his government was fully committed to improving workers welfare, not only by raising their wages, but also through introduction of a legal framework that protects the interests and rights of employees.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
By Staff writer
6th June 2010
TUCTA president Omari Ayoub
The Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to issue its stand on workers minimum salary increment, threatening industrial action if a response is not forthcoming.
The order is contained in the trade unions Workers Councils resolutions reached at its emergency meeting held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The trade union also vowed to take court action against Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development Prof Juma Kapuya for disrupting the notice on salary increment during his press conference on April 30 this year.
At the press conference, Prof Kapuya disrupted the notice on minimum wage issued by his predecessor, John Chiligati in 2007.
The seven-day ultimatum was, however, directed to the Minister of State in the Presidents Office (Public Service Management) Hawa Ghasia.
Addressing the press after the Workers Council yesterday, TUCTA president Omari Ayoub said the trade union would continue protecting workers rights, including safeguarding their interests.
We give the minister seven days with effect from Monday up to June 14 to tell workers about the government stand on minimum wage. If she defies the ultimatum, we will have no choice other resolving to holding a nationwide strike, he said.
Ayoub quoted the countrys constitution, saying the mother law bestows upon every citizen the right to employment, adding that every working individual had the right to proper pay.
He said the Council analysed the speech given by President Jakaya Kikwete when addressing Dar es Salaam regional elders recently. He said the delegates were not comfortable with the presidents speech.
There has a been a longstanding workers outcry over poor pay, unproportional income tax slashed from the salaries and poor terminal benefits offered by the pension funds upon workers retirement.
Ayoub said it was unfair for the president to use threatening and demeaning language upon TUCTA leaders and the entire working cadre.
The Council would like to inform the president that the language he employed was improper because TUCTA leaders are individuals elected to the posts legally, he said.
He said President Kikwete did not treat TUCTA secretary general Nicholaus Mgaya fairly since whatever was said or done by him (Mgaya) had all the blessings of TUCTA.
The president treated Mgaya as if the demands made by him were personal, he added. Apart from demanding for better terminal benefits and reduction of taxes slapped on salaries TUCTA has been demanding that workers minimum wage be raised to sh315,000.
In April, the President lambasted TUCTA leaders, saying their demands were hard to implement due to the small financial capacity of the government.
Instead, the president appealed to the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) to go back to the negotiating table as the best strategy for solving the long- standing workers demands.
President Kikwete also assured all workers that his government was fully committed to improving workers welfare, not only by raising their wages, but also through introduction of a legal framework that protects the interests and rights of employees.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
