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End of TRL labour dispute welcome
2008-03-14 09:05:39
By Editor
Yesterday, the management of Tanzania Railway Limited and the Tanzania Railway Workers Union thrashed out a compromise that fell short of the original workers` demand for a hefty 400,000/- monthly minimum wage.
Earlier, it seemed that they would fail to reach agreement as there were clear signs of highlighted tensions between the management of TRL and the employees.
The workers had given a strike notice to press their demands while the TRL administration tried unsuccessfully to block the strike through court action.
At the heart of the whole issue was the workers rejection of pay rises that fell below the cost of living, and it was clear that the strike would paralyse the movement of goods and passengers on the Central Line.
When the nationwide workers strike materialized, more than 500 train passengers who were heading for Western Tanzania from Dar es Salaam were stranded in Dodoma not knowing what next, and these included women and children.
The affected passengers staged a march to the Regional Commissioner’s Office in Dodoma to no avail.
Luckily enough, after protracted negotiations between the government, TRL and the railway workers union, a solution was found, and the workers who had vowed to stay off job until their demands were met softened their stance and settled for a short-run minimum wage of 160,000—almost twice the previous lowest monthly salary—which would be increased to 200,000/- minimum pay per month in August this year.
The agreement reflects the truth that both contending parties, namely the striking workers and the TRL management, were pragmatic in their positions, knew what they wanted, and were aware that a prolonged dispute would affect both the workers` welfare and that of the Tanzania Railway Limited—the milk cow.
As for the administration of the railway line, they were fully conscious that they had just taken over the management of Tanzania`s dilapidated central railway system, and unhealthy industrial relations would hinder their smooth take off.
On the other hand, the striking workers were aware that pressing for a series of unreasonable demands that had nothing to do with the financial position of the employer was disastrous, that is why—in spite of the fact that they had to fight the real wages fall with all their might—they concluded that striking was the art of the possible.
There is therefore no loser, but the agreement has just created a win-win situation.
Moreover, the agreed minimum wage is an example for private sector wages, which should be imitated by other employers, who usually opt for below inflation wage rises.
As a country, we should realize that strikes are more likely to occur after a drop in the real wage, and both government and private employers, as they did in this particular case, should do their best to end the strikes in a flexible manner, and thereafter see to it that not all labour disputes take the form of strikes.
Finally, we are glad that the railway workers strike has ended, and the suffering of stranded passengers has been averted.
Let us hope we shall not see the occurrence of a similar episode involving the same players in the coming future.
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