THE FIRE Services Union of Zambia says it will support any action council workers resort to as a means of expressing their anger against the oppression that the government has subjected them to FSUZ general secretary Clement Mulenga the council workers are a suffering ceremony that the PF government likes to watch

In an interview, Mulenga said the union was saddened at the perpetual delay in releasing the equalisation fund by the government.

“The government must know that the suffering council workers are God’s children. They must realise that we are human and must have a compassionate heart…the national executive will support any action the suffering workers will take to express themselves against this oppression the government has subjected them to,” he said.

“The delay has once again pushed council workers into two months’ salary arrears…we as a labour movement believe that money is available but the priorities of our political leaders are misplaced.” Mulenga wondered why the government had never asked the Electoral Commission of Zambia to delay by-elections as a result of financial challenges.

He said the union was at pains to accept that the government was facing serious financial challenges when ministers, permanent secretaries and other constitutional office-bearers got their salaries on time. He demanded that the government pays local government workers their December 2018 salaries as well as those for February and March this year.

“We as public workers, especially in local government, are now in destitution. We are a suffering ceremony that the PF government likes to watch,” said Mulenga.