CRWB OBTAINS AN INJUNCTION STOPPING STAFF STRIKE

Central Region Water Board (CRWB) has obtained an injunction stopping its trade union from staging a strike on  January 8 next year to force the removal of two board’s directors.

According to a sworn statement in support of the injunction by CRWB chief executive officer Gift Sageme, the board applied for the injunction on the basis that the matter has not gone for conciliation as required by law.

In this regard, Sageme argued that the strike would, therefore, be unlawful if it proceeds.

He also said since consumers under the board’s jurisdiction would be affected by the strike, Central Region Water Board Trade  Union may not be able to pay damages to those affected as an adequate remedy.

Reads Sageme’s sworn statement in part: “The intended action is therefore unlawful and unless restrained by a court order the respondent (CRWB Trade Union) will proceed with its strike.”

But according to a letter dated December 10 2019 that the union’s general secretary Jecup Lutere wrote to Sageme, the union gave a seven-day ultimatum from December 11 to 18 to have directors of finance and administration and technical services removed on the basis of poor performance.

Lutere alleged in the letter that the two directors were failing to remit pensions, union and other personal insurance policy deductions for two years, among others.

The court has since set January 7 as the date for hearing of an interparte application at the Lilongwe High Court registry.