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| National |
| MPs anger civil servants |
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by
Mclan Kanyang’wa, 02 July 2004
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08:56:28
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Civil servants are bitter with MPs’ demands for new perks and have threatened industrial action if the parliamentarians manage to hike their earnings.
The proposed perks for each MP include a K30,000 salary and several allowances amounting to over K230,000 ($2,130).
President of the Civil Servants Trade Union ( CSTU) Thomas Banda said while his union has been fighting for good working conditions in government through negotiations, the MPs have never opted for discussions.
“It is not the first time MPs have threatened to go on strike. When MPs want their perks raised they threaten to go on strike. The only way their salaries are raised is through strike. When they do this their issues are addressed but it is not only MPs who need salary increases,” said Banda, wondering why civil servants have been kept waiting while others are being considered.
He added: “It brings confusion in the civil service or else do they want us to strike before negotiations are finalised?”
Coordinator for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace for Blantyre Diocese Aloisious Nthenda said there is no justification for the MPs to push for new perks as the electorate is yet to see their performance..
“They went to Parliament just a month ago. We haven’t seen their performance,” he said.
Nthenda added that the MPs’ demand is a challenge to President Bingu wa Mutharika who has committed his government to reducing over expenditure.
But Nthenda said he doubts CSTU can take action on the issue, saying for the last ten years civil servants have suffered while the union has been dormant.
He added: “The problem is that CSTU leadership has been heavily politicised. Let us just wait and see”.
Chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee Rodgers Newa said the threats by the members of Parliament were surprising and an expression of greed.
He said there was no justification for the MPs to seek quick address on the perks issue when there are so many issues affecting Malawians.
“MPs have an important task a head of them and they should do that in a human spirit. The MPs should go to Parliament to debate issues affecting Malawians,” he said.
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