ZAMBIA UNION OF NURSES ORGANISATION (OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT) 27th September 2013 SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION AND WAY FORWARD ON THE 2013 GRZ/ZUNO COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT Introduction From the onset, I wish to thank most sincerely Nurses and Midwives who used the established official ZUNO channels of communication to air their observations and concerns over the outcome and implementation of the 2013 Collective Agreement signed between the Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) and the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). Special mention is the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and Mongu Branch ZUNO members who made written submissions through their local ZUNO leadership. Others are the office of the ZUNO Provincial Chairpersons for Eastern, Northern, Western and Copperbelt Provinces, in addition to a few other individuals who aired their concerns and sort clarifications by phone conversation and/or sms. Some other Nurses opted, as expected, to launch unfounded attacks on ZUNO and its leadership. Unfortunately, the majority of those complaining the loudest, particularly through electronic and social media, are the Nurses and Midwives who did not even bother to attend any of the recent sensitisation meetings carried out by my office in their branches. Therefore, I am pleased to say that though the ZUNO National leadership, acting through the office of the ZUNO President have already been to a number of selected districts and hospitals in all the ten (10) provinces of Zambia explaining the contents of the said Collective Agreement, even before its implementation came into effect, my office take the rare pleasure and privilege to clarify again on the following observations and concerns expressed by our members, Nurses and Midwives in general: 1. 21% Increment: Generally our members’ complaint is that the total increment does not amount to 21%, but less. As a result some feel cheated. TRUE STATUS: After critical analysis of a number of our members’ (Nurses and Midwives) September 2013 pay slips, it has been established that, almost all nurses and midwives have been awarded a collective total salary increment by 21%. The 21% has been distributed as follow: 4% increment on basic salary, 2% increment added to the already existing 5% of one’s basic salary as Commuted Night duty allowance and 15% of one’s basic salary as the newly introduced Health (Personnel) Shift (Differential) Allowance. In monetary terms, no lowest paid nurse or midwife, who is correctly placed on the salary structure and with the correct revised monthly basic salary, has received less than K600.00 as salary increment, before individual’s statutory tax deductions and NAPSA contribution. However, ZUNO has noticed some disparities, amounting to underpayments affecting a very small number of our members, particularly those Nurses and Midwives in salary scale F. The few affected Nurses and Midwives’ monthly basic salary seems to have been increased by 1.1% only, instead of the agreed upon 4%. Furthermore, ZUNO has observed that, the revised monthly basic salary amounts for Nurses and Midwives in Salary Scales F and G are not effected to some eligible Nurses and Midwives, contrary to the provisions of the 2013 Collective Agreement (Appendix 1) signed between ZUNO and Government of the Republic of Zambia. These alleged underpayments which as ZUNO, at least for now, suspect to be just mathematical and/or Collective Agreement implementation errors, on the part of Government, has consequently negatively affected the amounts of all allowances which are basic salary related, since they (allowances) are calculated in per centum of one’s basic salary. ACTION TAKEN BY ZUNO ON THE ALLEGED DISPARITIES: a) ZUNO has already formally written to inform government of the alleged disparities, as well as to seek government’s urgent intervention and/or clarification. So no need to worry. 2. Too much high Tax (PAYE) Deduction: Some members have complained of high tax deductions showing on their payslips. TRUE STATUS: First and foremost, tax rates such as for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) are not determined or agreed upon between the Trade Unions and Government during negotiations. Instead they (Tax rates) are a product of tax laws enacted by parliament. Secondly, it must be understood that all taxes, are implemented in accordance with the principle of, “the more you earn, the more you pay tax.” So PAYE is not an exceptional from this principle. Therefore, the upward tax rate (PAYE) and its negative effects experienced by our members in the month of September 2013, is because of the increase in our gross salaries (income) following the September 2013 salary upward adjustment awarded by government. Most of our members, had to automatically migrate to higher tax bands, calculated in the sequence of the first K2,200.00 and below being Tax Free, then K2,201.00 to K3,000.00 tax deduction at 25%, and K3,001 to K5,900 at 30%, while K5,901 and above deducted at 35% tax rate. PAYE is a citizenry obligation for national development, while NAPSA Contribution is for the employee’s personal social security after leaving employment and/or when aged 55 years and above. Therefore, it is not a punishment and/or only applicable to us Nurses and Midwives. ACTION BY ZUNO ON HIGH PAYE: ZUNO like all other trade unions in Zambia, has continued advocating and lobbying for the downward revision of tax rates, especially this time around, when the 2014 National Budget is to be tabled in parliament. Therefore, we wish to advise you our members to also actively, but peacefully participate in lobbying our policy makers and parliamentarians to revisit the tax laws. 3. Teachers Salaries: Some members have complained that Teachers have higher salaries than nurses, alleging that teacher unions negotiated better than ZUNO: TRUE STATUS: This complaint demonstrates that some of the Nurses and Midwives, usually those who just benefit, but do not even subscribe to ZUNO, easily forget or simply ignore to state the truth; so long they find the truth not to serve their personal interests on that particular day. The truth of the matter is that Teachers’ salaries are not higher than for Nurses and Midwives following implementation of the September 2013 salaries and conditions of service. What simply happened, is that last year (2012) it was our (Nurses, Midwives and Paramedical Personnel) turn to receive heft salary increments ranging from K700.00 up to K2,200.00, in some cases, and now this year it is the turn for Teaches to catch up with us since we shall now be in the same salary scales, following the newly introduced single spine salary structure that has replaced the MS, MDS, ESS and GSS salary scales, among other public service salary scales. As already explained to all Nurses and Midwives who bothered to attend ZUNO sensitisation meetings held in selected districts of all the ten (10) provinces of Zambia, the introduction of the single spine salary structure (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and above) is aimed at recognising, promoting and rewarding equity among workers of similar level of qualifications, though different professions. Therefore, comparison of the effectiveness of ZUNO to Teachers’ unions (and vice versa) whether before, during and/or after negotiations is uncalled for and misplaced. However, our members are entitled to their own opinions just as some Teachers are also accusing (in my view unfairly) their Teacher unions that ZUNO was more effective during negotiations; enhance the introduction of the health shift allowance for Nurses and Midwives at a rate of 15% of one’s basic salary. ACTION TAKEN BY ZUNO ZUNO has continued to sensitize its leadership and membership at all levels in order to create awareness on the new public service salary structure, in addition to their new salaries and conditions of service. 4. Maids’ Salaries: Some members have complained that hospital (health facility) maids’ salary increment is higher than the one awarded to nurses and midwives, adding that in some cases it goes even up to 200%. Furthermore, our members have also complained that there is no much difference between the salary of a maid (cleaner) and that of a Nurse, despite a Nurse/Midwife being a professionally trained cadre. TRUE STATUS: ZUNO’s analysis shows that the gross difference (basic salary with all allowances before deductions) of the lowest paid Nurse/Midwife (salary scale F) whose basic salary is erroneously increased by 1.1% instead of the agreed upon 4%; is K1,091.30 higher than the gross salary (basic salary with all the allowances before deductions – though PAYE is missing on the CDE payslips, I am sure by mistake) of the highest paid Cleaner/General Worker. Even if the lowest paid Nurses’ salary is still higher than that of the maid, what is clear is that the wider salary gap that existed between the lowest paid Nurse and the highest paid General Worker/Maid has been reduced by about 50%, an indication that, indeed Cleaners/Maids, not only in the health sector, but the entire public service, greatly benefited from the public service job evaluation exercise that has given rise to the new single spine salary structure. ACTION BY ZUNO OVER THE NARROWED NURSES’/MAIDS’ SALARY GAP: This item, being one of great concern to our members (Nurses and Midwives), ZUNO Head Office has already put it on its negotiation agenda for submission to government in preparation for the 2014 improved salaries and conditions of service collective bargaining process, that may be staring soon - within two or three months from now. 5. GENERAL OBSERVATION: It has been observed, with regret, that some of our members have a tendency of missing branch meetings where very important information, such as the new salaries and conditions of service get disseminated, and consequently starts reacting to rumours, hearsay and speculations without first establishing true facts on the ground. 6. MY ADVISE; My humble piece of advice to all Nurses and Midwives; ZUNO members in particular, is that: a) remain calm, and seek information and/or advise when in doubt. Avoid being caught up in a web of making uninformed decisions, since ZUNO leadership has already taken note of your concerns and started engaging government accordingly; b) air all your grievances (if any) through established ZUNO channels, and not otherwise; c) develop a culture of having and attending regular (routine) ZUNO Branch and Provincial ZUNO meetings, and not only when you are in desperation, in order to avoid one finding himself/herself in a web of speculations and rumour mongering. CONCLUSION: Kindly disseminate this information to all our ZUNO members under your jurisdiction. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. My best regards For and on behalf of: Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation Thom D. Yung’ana PRESIDENT
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 07:22:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015