Striking Air Zimbabwe pilots, engineers and cabin crew have appealed a Labor Court order this week saying they must go back to work, repeating their demand for payment of some US$9 million in back salary and allowances owed them by the carrier.
Workers filed the appeal late Thursday and a ruling is expected in the next few days.
The appeal said the industrial action by Air Zimbabwe employees followed stipulated labor laws, contrary to the findings of the Labor Court that were issued this week.
Economic commentator Masimba Kuchera said an arbitrator should intervene to end the two-and-a-half week strike. “There is need for the two parties to settle this dispute which is likely to continue until the strikers are fully paid,” Kuchera said.
Meanwhile, a Newsday Web poll asking readers if Zimbabwe should have its own airline found 53 percent of respondents in favor while 44 percent said Zimbabwe doesn't need to have its own airline. Three percent of the nearly 10,000 respondents were undecided.