TRL employees vow not to work under present bosses
By Frank Kimboy
The situation at the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) took a new twist yesterday as workers vowed to work independently from today.
Speaking to reporters at the Tanzania Railways Workers Union (TRAWU) headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Bob Koku, one of TRL workers who read a statement, said they would not continue to work under the current management because the 60-day notice which it served the Government for termination of the contract, expired yesterday.
The decision by the workers comes as the Government remains silent over the fate of the company after the 60-day notice.
Mr Koku said the workers will not stop working, but they will not receive orders from the current management because, according to them, their contract to manage the company has expired without the Government stating its stand on the matter.
"Today (yesterday) is a very good day for all TRL workers because we have finally got rid of the exploiters (TRL management), and we are very disappointed with the Government’s insistence to embrace them," he said adding:
"And it is from this background that we the workers have decided not to work under the current management regardless of what the Government will decide."
The workers also urged the Government not to hesitate to terminate its contract with RITES Company of India that formed TRL regardless of the cost that it would incur.
Mr Koku said the Government has continued to lose millions of shillings through paying lease fees for locomotives and passengers coaches that are no longer in use by the company.
"RITES Company suspended their coaches and locomotives from being used by TRL a long time ago, but the Government has continued to pay them for the same," he noted.
They also expressed their low confidence on the minister for Infrastructure Development in handling the issue. They argued that the minister has failed to live up to his promises regarding the TRL saga.
They cited the minister's insistence that the locomotive and passengers coaches that TRL hired from RITES, continue to operate regardless of the RITES order.
When contacted by this newspaper, TRL managing director Hundi Chaudhary, said the company's management was waiting for the Government’s response before they decide on what to do next.
TRL which manages the central railway line, issued a 60-day notice for contract termination on September 10.
Among other conditions set in the notice, TRL wants the Government which owns 49 per cent of the company's shares, to pay all the company's debts which amount to $115 million (Sh151.8 billion), if the company is to continue to manage the central railway line.
