Disgruntled Meikles workers demonstrate

By Molline Gagare and Rejoice Mberengwa

BULAWAYO – A group of workers from Meikles Zimbabwe yesterday besieged the company’s offices in Bulawayo protesting against “unfair dismissal”.

The workers were served with retrenchment notices in March this year and are unhappy with the manner in which management handled their case.

Wielding placards, the disgruntled workers toyi-toyed around the company property situated at corner Leopold Takawira Avenue and Jason Moyo Street as they sang and chanted slogans denigrating top management and Meikles chairman John Moxon.

“We want back our money”, “no to non-payment”, read some of the placards.

They demanded their terminal benefits and accused top management of dismissing them from work without notice.

The vice chairman of the workers committee, Owen Mutangadura said Meikles group human resources manager, Simba Chingowo came to Bulawayo in February and notified the workers that a retrenchment proposal would be drafted before employees are dismissed from work.

“In February Chingowo came from Harare. He told us that before any worker is relieved of his or her duties, a proposal would be drafted to find the best possible way in which people would be retrenched in an amicable manner,” he said.

“On March 20 he came back and served us with letters terminating our contracts. What he did is very unfair. How can more than 20 people be fired from their jobs without notice after more than 20 years in employment?”

Affirmative Action Group (AAG) vice president, Sam Ncube, who came to support the demonstration, said a lot of companies in Zimbabwe were taking advantage of poor workers by retrenching them unfairly.

“These people are our members and I’m here today in solidarity with them. This matter needs to be looked into urgently. A lot of companies take advantage of poor workers by not giving them fair dismissal packages. They know that the workers don’t have the money to fight them in court. The system is very corrupt,” fumed Ncube.

Meikles Bulawayo branch manager, Thandi Takawira declined to comment and referred questions to top management in Harare.

“Please go and wait outside. I’m just an employee too. If you want a comment, please call my superiors. They’re the ones who are in a position to tell you what’s going on. All I can say is that the matter is being handled through the courts,” she said.

The angry workers said the company had not given them anything two months after they were served with retrenchment notices.

Efforts to get a comment from Meikles senior management in Harare were fruitless yesterday. The Chronicle