200808161991 | Tanzania warns civil servants on strike

Tanzania warns civil servants on strike

Dar Es Salaam - Tanzania said on Friday that a strike by civil servants planned for later this month over delays in salary payments was illegal as there was no dispute in the first place. The Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) has called a three-day strike by government workers from August 25 over what it says are delays paying wages arising from an average 24% pay rise that was backdated to January. "That strike is illegal, and if it happens, we will take the necessary action against those who participate in it," Hawa Abdulrahman Ghasia, Minister for Public Service Management in the President's office, told a news conference.

He did not say what action the government would take.

Ghasia said Tucta had also failed to give the required 60-day notice for the planned strike.

She said the delays disbursing payments - which total about 200 billion shillings - were caused because claims had to be vetted to avoid fraud.

"We have no dispute with any labour union, and even those who announced a strike know that," she said. "Let all civil servants know that those who have called the strike are trying to enhance their reputations."

Tucta officials were not immediately available for comment.

It had asked civil servants including teachers, health workers and local government employees to join the strike.