.MSISKA

By HOPE BWALYA –

THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has resolved to hold a preliminary meeting with Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska to guide salary talks.
ZCTU Secretary General Cosmas Mukuka said in the meeting the congress had with affiliate unions, it was resolved to have talks with Dr Msiska before any further negotiations.
Mr Mukuka said yesterday the meeting was meant to give clear guidance to the congress on the way forward for the salary negotiations.
“We met as a union last week and came up with a consolidated view in approaching the wage freeze issue. We resolved to meet with the Secretary to the Cabinet on what perspectives to be taken before serious negotiations can begin,” he said.
The union had since written to Dr Msiska and were awaiting a response from him, upon which the congress would make a decision on negotiations.
Last week, Mr Mukuka said his organisation had called for a meeting with affiliate unions to come up with a strategy on negotiations.
The negotiations come in the wake of the directive by President Edgar Lungu for the Government to open talks with Public Service unions.
He called on all unions whose collective agreements had not expired to take advantage of the salary talks so as to address the fuel price increment.
Unions should review the agreements to help assess the fuel situation, as the review would help the unions negotiate, with the fuel price increment in mind.