Malawi’s civil servant strike still set, deadlock with govt on 45 % salary hike

Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU), which represents a majority of the public service workforce, will meet Wednesday to decide on when  to start  their planned stay away from work following a deadlock during a meeting with the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) on workers demand for a 45 percent slary hike.

CSTU secretary general Madalitso Njolomole said the meeting, which was also attended by National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (Nonm), failed to reach any agreement.

He said in the absence of any offer from government to address their concerns, civil servants were determined to proceed with the natiownwide  strike.

“We will brief  all civil servants  at Capital Hill on Wedneday on the deadlock and decide way forward on when the strike should start,” said Njolomole.

He  said  civil servants  should not be taken for a ride.

CSTU is threatening a strike if government will not meet its demand for a pay hike of a living wage as they protest against the 10 percent increment offer.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Goodall Gondwe offered a 10 percent  pay hike in the proposed 2017/18 National Budget.

Gondwe said the pay hike would be given on merit to make the public service vibrant.

Representatives of the GNT  could not immediately comment on the outcome of the meeting with CSTU.

However, President Peter Mutharika is on record to have told civil servants not contended with pay packages in the public sector to consider quitting and joining the private sector for greener pastures, saying working in a service is a calling.