Air Zimbabwe's striking pilots summoned for hearings

Air Zimbabwe hearings scheduled to take place on on 15-Sep-2010 over its pilots embarking on an "illegal strike" did not take place as management was re-drafting the letters summoning them to the hearings (The Zimbabwean/All Africa, 16-Sep-2010). The pilots have been charged with contravening Section 4(a) and (b) Statutory Instrument 15 (2006) of the National Employment Code of Conduct, citing "willful disobedience to a lawful order" and for "an act of conduct or omission inconsistent with the fulfilment of the expressed or implied conditions of contract". Other Air Zimbabwe workers have reportedly given management up to 30-Sep-2010 to settle the matter. Air Zimbabwe workers and those on the retrenchment list are reportedly owed USD9 million. Management at Air Zimbabwe has said it does not have capacity to pay the outstanding allowances. The pilots have been on strike since 08-Sep-2010 demanding immediate payment of allowances and outstanding salaries.