GOVT SHOULD EXPECT SHUTDOWN IF...

NHLANGANO – If government elects to stick to the ‘take it or leave it’ stance displayed last week with regard to CoLA, then it should brace itself for a showdown.

This was the sentiment expressed by angry workers yesterday as they demonstrated along the streets and further knocked from one government office door to another, where they delivered petitions aimed at making a strong statement about their readiness to go ahead with their intended strike action scheduled for next week. The public sector associations (PSAs) made it clear that they will take drastic steps to force government to award the cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA), should those in power stick to their current attitude regarding the issue.

Receiving the petitions from the PSAs in Nhlangano yesterday were Shiselweni Regional Education Officer (REO) Siboniso Gumbi, Regional Administrator’s Personal Secretary Phindile Malinga on behalf of the regional administration office, and as well as Police Regional Commissioner Senior Assistant Commissioner Wendy Hleta. According to union leaders, the unified workforce decided to embark on the ‘door-to-door’ action to illustrate how far they were willing to have the current dispute resolved amicably without anyone going for the extreme way.

Prepared

Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said they were prepared to press the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, for a change, which they felt would be for the betterment of the country. When addressing workers at the Shiselweni Regional Education Offices yesterday, Dlamini said they were not impressed by the PM’s attitude when he attempted to address the issue of the pending strike during a press conference held at Ngwane Teachers College last Friday. He said as workers they were disappointed by the PM when he came out with guns blazing and made it succinctly clear that no amount of persuasion would force government to cede to the workers’ demands. He said such an approach was demoralising to the workers, who were otherwise willing to work hand-in-hand with government on a way forward.

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