The move follows a salary dispute with the entire work force over outstanding salaries of $4 million dollars dating back to 2008. All movable property belonging to the council has since been attached by the messenger of court, leaving the local authority with no option but to contract all its services to private companies.
The mayor said that the council did not want to disrupt services to residents. “This will also mean that we are going to embark on massive retrenchment exercise because we do not have the money to pay the workers,” said Chakabuda.
He added that council had applied for stay of execution but workers said they were going to oppose the move.
The pay dispute between council and its entire 500 worker force was ignited in 2008 when management unilaterally increased their salaries by a whopping 160 percent, side stepping workers. The workers approached the court for a rise but the local authority continued to appeal the rulings and, to date, has not paid the salaries.
Post published in: News