Bargain for living wages, unions tipped

By KETRA KALUNGA TRADE unions representing both the public and private workers should bargain for a living wage that would enable them to cope with the high cost of living, the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has said. And the ZCTU has urged the unions to quicken the bargaining process so that their concerns …

Bargain for living wages, unions tipped
By KETRA KALUNGA TRADE unions representing both the public and private workers should bargain for a living wage that would enable them to cope with the high cost of living, the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has said. And the ZCTU has urged the unions to quicken the bargaining process so that their concerns are included in the national budget. ZCTU General Secretary Cosmus Mukuka in an interview said unions should ensure that the bargaining is aimed at addressing the high cost of living. Mr Mukuka also urged unions to ensure they bargain for a meaningful living wage to avoid being entangled in debt. “The cost of living is very high, so workers should make sure that their bargaining is aimed at addressing the high cost of living,” he said. And Mr Mukuka urged unions to quickly finish the negotiations to have their demands included in the budget. He said by so doing, workers would have their concerns properly defined in the national budget. “We appeal to both public and private sectors to quickly finish the negotiations so that most of the cries are included in the budget,” Mr Mukuka said.