Dar Es Salaam — A COUNTRY-wide strike called by Trade Union Congress of Tanzania is legitimate and should go on as scheduled, regardless of recent calls from Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Prof Juma Kapuya, for the industrial action to be suspended.

The Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE) chairman, Mr Othman Mrutu, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Prof Kapuya's recent olive branch to unions, is a political gimmick.

"TUCTA's general council made a decision to strike over poor pay, disparities in pension payments and hostile taxes imposed on salaries last October," Mr Mrutu told a news conference.

He said after three months since the notice was communicated to the government, no progress has been made in negotiations to address the three areas of workers concerns and that industrial action has been decided as a last resort.

"This strike is legal after following proper procedures and we urge all workers to join," he said. TUCTA has scheduled the three-day strike to commence on May 5, this year.

TUCTA wants its minimum wage proposal of 315,000/- floated three years ago be reviewed in accordance with depreciation of the shilling; harmonization of pension payments to civil servants belonging to different social security funds and a reduction of pay as you earn (PAYE).

"We at TUGHE belong to NSSF and PSPF and work for the same government, but the question is that why are we paid differently upon our retirement. Why?" Mrutu argued.

TUGHE Secretary General, Mr Ali Kiwenge, said civil servants' tolerance on the three issues of concern has been overstretched. "We want the same pension payment for all government employees and not discriminate some," Mr Kiwenge argued.

In 2008, government reviewed the statutory minimum wage from 67,000/- to 100,000/- which is tax exempt, reduced PAYE from 18 to 15 per cent or more for those in the high income bracket.

Last week, Prof Kapuya urged TUCTA to restrain from mobilizing the industrial action, pending conclusion of on-going negotiations.

"Negotiations are going on well, we have not failed to agree and so let's continue the process," Prof Kapuya said.

TUGHE is one of the largest trade union affiliate of TUCTA and the support is a major boost towards mobilizing public workers to down tools, come next May if a breakthrough is not reached.