Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SECION01OF02HARARE628
2006-05-26 10:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
LABOR STRIKES LOMING
VZCZCXRO8761 PP RUEHMR DE RUEHSB #0628/01 1461003 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261003Z MAY 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0108 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1217 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1053 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1223 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0481 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0847 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1274 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3644 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1046 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1683 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7// RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCSJOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YOR 1432 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUFOADA/AC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/OB/DOI// RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//CJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVLLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: ELAB PGO PHUM ECON ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LABOR STRIKES LOMING
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Erc T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVLLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: ELAB PGO PHUM ECON ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LABOR STRIKES LOMING
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Erc T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. C) General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Unio of
Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) General Secretary GertrudeHambira told
econoff on May 24 that within two weks the union would
likely announce a strike by aricultural workers over wages.
Zimbabwe Congressof Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General
Wellingon Chibebe said ZCTU would support GAPWUZ but not
play a leading role and would defer a decision onadditional
strikes pending further negotiations oer wages with
employers and the GOZ in the Tripatite Negotiating Forum.
The Harare Municipal Worers Union, a civil servant
association unaffiliaed with ZCTU, has announced its
intention to strke beginning June 5 over wages. End Summary.
--------------
Farm Worker Mobilizing for June Strike
--------------
2. (C) Genera Secretary Gertrude Hambira told econoff May
24 that GAPWUZ intended within two weeks to call for a strike
of agricultural workers over wages. Current minimum monthly
wages for general agricultural, horticultural and timber
workers are Z$1.3M (US$13 at the official exchange rate;
US$3.1 at the parallel rate),Z$2.2M and Z$2.8M,
respectively. The union was seeking increases to Z$10, Z$15
and Z$15, respectively.
3. (C) Hambira said she was coordinating with local NGOs and
international labor contacts, especially in the UK, to raise
the prospective strike's profile. She added that she was
seeking funding from local donor organizations to transport
workers to participate in demonstrations in the capital.
4. (C) Hambira reported that GAPWUZ had received a letter
from the Agriculture Labor Bureau, an independent association
of agricultural employers from the Commercial Farmers,
Union, the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers, Union of Zimbabwe
and the Zimbabwe Farmers, Union, threatening to seek the
union's deregistration if it did not retract its call for a
strike. She said that the threat would not dissuade the
union, which under Zimbabwean law had the right to strike
once it had notified employers of its intent to strike. She
advised that the Ministry may step in to mediate between
workers and employers once the union filed its notification.
-------------- --------------
ZCTU to Support GAPWUZ, Consider Additional Strikes
-------------- --------------
5. (C) According to a Japanese diplomat, Zimbabwe Congress
of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Wellington Chibebe
told him on May 23 that ZCTU would help coordinate the GAPWUZ
strike but would not play a leading role. The diplomat added
that Chibebe had confirmed press reports that ZCTU would
defer decisions on whether to pursue broader wage-related
strikes until at least June 16, the date of the overarching
union's next General Council meeting. Chibebe had added that
such decisions would hinge on progress in the Tripartite
Negotiating Forum between labor, employers and the GOZ. He
noted further that ZCTU actions would not be coordinated with
the opposition MDC.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVLLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: ELAB PGO PHUM ECON ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LABOR STRIKES LOMING
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Erc T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. C) General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Unio of
Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) General Secretary GertrudeHambira told
econoff on May 24 that within two weks the union would
likely announce a strike by aricultural workers over wages.
Zimbabwe Congressof Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General
Wellingon Chibebe said ZCTU would support GAPWUZ but not
play a leading role and would defer a decision onadditional
strikes pending further negotiations oer wages with
employers and the GOZ in the Tripatite Negotiating Forum.
The Harare Municipal Worers Union, a civil servant
association unaffiliaed with ZCTU, has announced its
intention to strke beginning June 5 over wages. End Summary.
--------------
Farm Worker Mobilizing for June Strike
--------------
2. (C) Genera Secretary Gertrude Hambira told econoff May
24 that GAPWUZ intended within two weeks to call for a strike
of agricultural workers over wages. Current minimum monthly
wages for general agricultural, horticultural and timber
workers are Z$1.3M (US$13 at the official exchange rate;
US$3.1 at the parallel rate),Z$2.2M and Z$2.8M,
respectively. The union was seeking increases to Z$10, Z$15
and Z$15, respectively.
3. (C) Hambira said she was coordinating with local NGOs and
international labor contacts, especially in the UK, to raise
the prospective strike's profile. She added that she was
seeking funding from local donor organizations to transport
workers to participate in demonstrations in the capital.
4. (C) Hambira reported that GAPWUZ had received a letter
from the Agriculture Labor Bureau, an independent association
of agricultural employers from the Commercial Farmers,
Union, the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers, Union of Zimbabwe
and the Zimbabwe Farmers, Union, threatening to seek the
union's deregistration if it did not retract its call for a
strike. She said that the threat would not dissuade the
union, which under Zimbabwean law had the right to strike
once it had notified employers of its intent to strike. She
advised that the Ministry may step in to mediate between
workers and employers once the union filed its notification.
-------------- --------------
ZCTU to Support GAPWUZ, Consider Additional Strikes
-------------- --------------
5. (C) According to a Japanese diplomat, Zimbabwe Congress
of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Wellington Chibebe
told him on May 23 that ZCTU would help coordinate the GAPWUZ
strike but would not play a leading role. The diplomat added
that Chibebe had confirmed press reports that ZCTU would
defer decisions on whether to pursue broader wage-related
strikes until at least June 16, the date of the overarching
union's next General Council meeting. Chibebe had added that
such decisions would hinge on progress in the Tripartite
Negotiating Forum between labor, employers and the GOZ. He
noted further that ZCTU actions would not be coordinated with
the opposition MDC.