Harare, (New Ziana) – Operations at Printflow (formerly Government Printing and Stationery) ground to a halt on Thursday as workers at its branches throughout the country downed tools to protest non-payment of their September salaries and the failure by management to comply with a court order.
Printflow, which has branches in Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo, Bulawayo and Harare, employs 189 workers across the country, 120 of whom are stationed at the headquarters in the capital.
The workers have vowed to continue the strike action until their demands are met.
One of the workers at the head office who refused to be named for fear of victimisation, said the job action is in response to long-standing grievances, including failure to comply with a January this year Supreme Court order to reinstate housing and transport allowances which were unilaterally removed in August 2020.
“We have received no communication from management regarding our concerns. The acting finance director Mr Manyonga, who is the works council chairperson, called the workers’ committee members in the morning,” he said.
“At the same time, members from the National Employment Council (NEC) for the Printing Industry and Zimbabwe Graphic Workers Union (ZGWU) came and talked to staff, and they are now in a closed meeting with the CEO Mr David Takawira.
The workers’ committee members have been summoned into the meeting too.” According to the Printflow workers, they have not received a salary increase since January 2023, despite an NEC directive last January to effect an 8 percent wage increase.
“Printflow applied for an exemption from this increase but even the agreed-upon four percent was not implemented, with management citing the COVID-19 allowance workers received as the reason,” the worker said.
Tensions escalated when the company scrapped the COVID-19 allowance which had become a crucial lifeline for most employees last June.
This, along with stagnant wages, has left workers unable to cope with rising costs for essentials like medical care and school fees.
“The prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed, making life unbearable for us,” said the worker.
In a letter dated September 10, 2024, employees notified management of their intention to begin a sit-in starting on September 30 if their grievances were not addressed.
Key demands included the reinstatement of housing and transport allowances and the provision of personal protective equipment, which has allegedly not been supplied since 2021.
New Ziana