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E10 000 FINE FOR PARTICIPATING ON STRIKE â€“ PM

By ZWELETHU DLAMINI | 2019-01-27

Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has declared the civil servants’ strike proposed to begin tomorrow as illegal.

The PM then issued a stern warning to civil servant who will want to join the industrial action which he deemed illegal saying they may lose employment and be charged up to E10 000 for contravening section 88 of the Industrial Relations act. He said any employee contemplating taking part in unlawful strike action should consider the consequences that may follow. On the other hand, government is running to court to seek that the strike be stopped. “The strike action called by PSAS, SNAT, SNAGAP, SNA and NAPSAWU calling on all employees including essential services to strike for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 COLA is unlawful,” he declared.

Dlamini was speaking during a press conference held at his office yesterday evening. He said government will not allow union leaders to pollute the nation with foreign elements by refusing his three per cent offer without consulting the membership. He said this was a sign that they had ulterior motives. “As a new government we will not be intimidated by the militant response from elements within union leadership.

This is not a war and we are not an enemy. We are colleagues and are doing everything in our power to preserve your jobs,” he said.

The prime minister also accused union leaders of threatening and intimidating civil servants who will not participate in the strike including those in essential services. He also made it clear that there was no point in engaging in a strike action for the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) when they have said it over and again that the economy of the country was not sustainable to afford such.

“Nobody has the right to threaten and intimidate employees into joining an unlawful strike. It is futile to demand salary increases that they know are unattainable because Government wages are already unsustainable,” he added.

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