Home News Retrenched NUST workers bemoan  unfair dismissal… as UZ lecturers declare incapacitation 

Retrenched NUST workers bemoan  unfair dismissal… as UZ lecturers declare incapacitation 

by Bustop TV News

By Takudzwa Changadeya

Workers at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo have accused their employer of unmerited retrenchment, claiming the dismissal process was unfair.

NUST retrenched over 60 non-academic staff members on Thursday, following the university’s call for voluntary retrenchment and early retirement in March 2022 to create a fit for purpose staff.

The university revealed that it had to send away some of it’s staff members as a result of low uptake of the offer.

Talking to BustopTV, one of the retrenched employees said he wasn’t happy with the way they were treated.

“Honestly I am not happy, we didn’t deserve this treatment. You can’t dismiss someone from their work within 24 hrs, that’s unfair.

“They should have warned us of such situation rather than ambushing us like this. Now we are left in the middle of nowhere. That’s very bad, they have left us in the midst of a lot of problems that we can’t express here,” he said.

Another perturbed employee told this publication that the whole dismissal process left them confused, adding that the university management should have engaged them prior to the retrenchment and shade light on their exit packages.

“This is really confusing, it’s not even clear how much are we going get after this dismissal.

“I think they should have prepared us for this situation and discuss with us our exit benefits. I am really shocked,” another retrenched employee bemoaned.

A letter from NUST to the retrenched staff members reads:

“Please be advised that you shall be laid off accordingly, and your last day at work shall be 31 May 2023. You shall be entitled to service pay as enshrined in Section 12 C (2) of the Labour Act, cash in lieu of leave, and pension benefits as per the relevant regulations. In addition to that, you shall be entitled to three (3) months’ notice pay.

“Payment of your package shall be expedited and paid out in the shortest possible time. I would like to thank you for the service you rendered to the University, and wish you the best in your future endeavours, partly reads the letter.

Meanwhile, University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers have declared incapacitation, demanding their salaries in United States dollars.

A letter addressed to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry, the Association of University Teachers (AUT) revealed that UZ lecturers were getting paltry salaries that were not matching with the galloping prices.

“To illustrate the situation, as of October 2018, a junior lecturer’s monthly salary was US$2 258, (‘pre-October 2018 salary scales’).

“By September 2022, the situation had reached unconscionable levels of a salary worth less than US$200 for a junior lecturer. Such a salary was lower than the lowest paid general worker in the private sector,” partly reads the letter seen by BustopTV.

The letter further indicated that lecturers were no longer able to make ends meet and their efforts to engage Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira over their plight were to no avail.

“The minister was not sympathetic and disclaimed responsibility for the welfare of employees of State universities,” AUT said.

“He categorically stated that the responsible authorities and employers were the university councils and not the government.

Workers across the country have always been demanding their salaries in United States dollars as the local currency loses its value due to inflation.

Journalists at the state run Zimpapers recently declared incapacitation, they were followed by Journalists  at the privately owned Alpha Media Holdings, the publishers of Newsday, The Standard, Southern Eye and Zimbabwe Independent.

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