Zimbabwe's main labour union said today it expected thousands of workers to "stay away" from work for two days this week to push for higher wages in a strike that could pile more pressure on President Robert Mugabe.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says a majority of its affiliate unions have signed up for a job boycott on Tuesday and Wednesday, chosen instead of a demonstration amid fears of possible violent reprisals.
Mugabe, battling a crumbling economy and resurgent opposition, has accused the ZCTU of being a Western stooge, sponsored to oust him for seizing white-owned commercial farms. His ministers have called on workers to ignore the boycott, warning the unions "against inciting violence".
ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo said the party was going ahead with "the stay away" because talks between labour, industry and government officials on a higher minimum wage and other improved work conditions had not yet yielded results.
"As far as we are concerned we gave adequate notice for this job boycott, and we are trying to protect workers from brutality by not staging any demonstrations," Matombo said.
The ZCTU say workers want a minimum wage of 1 million Zimbabwe dollars (2,000 pounds on the official market but worth 25 pounds on the black market) and for the government to resolve an economic meltdown and increase access to anti-retroviral drugs.
Mugabe has faced international condemnation over a crackdown, which left main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai injured and hospitalised after police stopped a banned prayer rally to protest against a deepening economic crisis