By Staff Reporter
Unionised workers at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) have resolved to down tools on Tuesday over delayed implementation of the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), which was issued as a directive by President Hakainde Hichilema during a meeting with the ZNBC board and management at State House earlier this year.
The workers are also protesting following the collapse of negotiations over salary increments.
ZNBC employees have lamented that they have not received a salary increment in the past two years, with management maintaining a position of a zero percent adjustment.
“After protracted negotiations, both unions [the Zambia Union of Broadcasters (ZUBID) and National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW)] decided to declare a dispute. This is where we are and things are tense. The worker’s morale is down,” said a source.
According to a notice issued by ZUBID to its members, the union has already notified the Labour Commissioner of the current impasse and its intention to conduct a strike ballot.
“Earlier this week the union formally wrote to both ZNBC and office of the Labour Commissioner to notify them of our intention to proceed with a strike ballot. We have since received a response from the Labour Commissioner, which is affirmative and encouraging. Further communication will be shared with members in due course,” stated the notice.
The union further disclosed that ZNBC management has written to request an extension of the 2024/2025 collective agreement, which has remained in dispute for the past ten months.
“While this is disappointing, it is a reality we must acknowledge,” the notice read.
On the delayed Voluntary Separation Scheme, the source told Daily Revelation that management received more than 100 applications from employees willing to leave the institution, but six months later, there has been no tangible progress.
”You see, in other institutions, voluntary separation scheme was conducted within three weeks. Now ours has taken longer than six months, just a few days before we enter the new year. And those who applied for the same scheme were hoping that this could be done within three or four months especially even after the presidential directive,” said the source.
The looming industrial action comes amid growing frustration among workers, who say prolonged delays and unresolved negotiations have significantly affected morale at the public broadcaster.
