Zimbabwe's civil servants resumed their job boycott on Thursday, a day after government reportedly offered them an increment that will translate to $7 for the least paid employee in monthly salaries.
The 235 000 strong civil servants embarked on a five day strike this week to press the cash strapped government to increase their salaries from $200 to $538 per month.
On Wednesday they suspended the strike to consider a government package.
But the $240 million package was outrightly rejected by the unions who described it as "ambiguous."
"Government has presented a resource envelope of $240 million as salary increment for the year 2012, an ambiguous offer, shrouded with many employment obligations," the Apex Council, which represents all unions, said in a statement Wednesday night.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said the package translated to $7 increment for the lowest paid worker once unpacked.
"In light of this development, we are left with no option but to return to the trenches... Let's continue the strike and effectively turn up in large numbers" the union declared.
Last year, the civil servants were awarded $15 increase after "protracted negotiations". Early this month government increased salaries and allowances of ministers infuriating its poorly paid workers.
Subsistence and travelling allowances for ministers, deputy ministers, judges, provincial governors and ministerial permanent secretaries were increased substantially.
Ministers earn an average of $3 000 per month.
Civil servants, particularly teachers, nurses and doctors, have been striking on and off for better salaries since 2007.
The situation came to a head in 2008, when staff shortages forced state hospitals to close some units and strikes saw teacher attending classes for just 50 days of classes in the whole year.
The strike by civil servants has had political undertones with Zanu PF officials accusing Finance Minister Tendai Biti of sabotaging the wobbly coalition.
Biti has said government coffers are dry and that the economy cannot sustain the salary increases. Zanu PF argues the country must use diamond revenue to finance the salary increases.
