CSTU Mzuzu Chapter protests salary raise
Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) Mzuzu Chapter has said it is not contented with the recent 45 percent salary increment, arguing the raise is in favour of employees in higher grades.
The chapter has since called on CSTU leaders to justify acceptance of an increment and failure to do so will lead to vote of no confidence and calls for resignation of their leaders.
Mzuzu CSTU Chapter chairperson Steve Munyenyembe, in an interview, said their leaders accepted a raw deal on the salary increment, a development he said has left civil servants in lower grades suffering.
He said employees in higher grades received increments ranging from 70 to 110 percent while those in lower grades got 45 percent increment.
He said with the rise in cost of living, the 45 percent increment was a non-starter.
Munyenyembe said CSTU leaders owe lower grade employees an explanation as to why they accepted such an increment when civil servants agreed that the lowest paid civil servant should be getting K70 000 (US$155) per month.
“Our earlier stand was that the least paid civil servant should be getting K70 000 so that they can also afford to meet the rising cost of living. It is surprising that those who earn less are the ones who got the lowest increment.
“Since our leaders are the ones who were negotiating these increments, we want them to come and explain why they accepted such increments that do not look into the welfare of those in lower grades,” he said.
Reacting to the Mzuzu CSTU Chapter concerns on Monday, CSTU general secretary Madalitso Njolomole said people in lower grades got better increments in the past and giving them huge increments this time would have seen their salaries overlapping with those in higher grades.
He said it would not make sense to have those in lower grades receiving more money than their seniors when they have not been promoted.
Njolomole said the civil service has about 150 000 employees of which 43 000 are in grade K, 23 000 in grade L and 22 000 in grade M.
He, however, said those in grade K, L and M will be considered in July ths year and called on the chapter to channel their grievances through CSTU regional committee (North), arguing that CSTU receives communication through regional committees.
