Power struggle in CSTU affects members
Wrangles in the Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) have reduced the bargaining powers of the union causing some workers to start mobilising themselves in protest against new cost-cutting measures which government has put introduced.
This development follows the union’s delay to hold a congress where new executive leaders would be elected to replace the current one headed by Elia Kamphinda Banda who is due to retire on December 31 this year.
CSTU general secretary Pontius Kalichero admitted in an interview yesterday that the union executive members have been jostling for positions such that the executive has not been able to negotiate with government on civil servants’ welfare.
“As an entity, we have not come out clearly to comment on the effects of the new cost-cutting measures government has started to implement. Drivers in civil service are already mobilising themselves to protest over these issues and we cannot come in right now,” he said.
The circular issued on November 1 2013 states that each ministry would be restricted to three pool vehicles and that drivers of lorries and minibuses would be managed at Plant and Vehicle Hire Organisation (PVHO).
“We don’t know why this measure has come back because we had negotiated and the decision was reversed but it seems it was in bad faith. We want to do everything we can so that nobody loses their job,” Kalichero said.
A member of the Government Negotiating Team (GNT), Sam Madula, told The Nation last week that government had no confidence in the CSTU executive because the union was disorganised.
“It is normal in any organisation, be it a church or anywhere else. It is normal when people are vying for a position in an organisation, there are divisions. But we feel that when we hold the congress, all this will end,” he said.
A congress of the union is expected to take place before the end of December, according to Kalichero.
However, the union has a shortfall in its budget for the congress after identifying K6 million from a donor.
