Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), another group of public servants, has declared a strike demanding salary increment, piling more pressure on government which has in recent months had to deal with industrial action notices from groups like science teachers, arts teachers and health workers.
According to ULGWU secretary general Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba , the union together with other Public Service Labour Unions concluded a Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2018 to enhance salaries for all public servants including local governments but “unfortunately government partially performed her part and defaulted. Hence the dispute.”
Lwabayi says that the union has tried to resolve the issues at hand but government has not been able to fulfill its mandate. He also says that even when ULGWU gave government a notice, nothing much has been achieved. He has since declared the beginning of industrial action next week.
“This [Collective Bargaining Agreement] was made to address salary disparities within the public service yet we have same qualifications, we work same hours a day, working process standards and procedures are the same and above all we go in same market for food, housing, transport, medical just to mention a few,” wrote Lwabayi on July 01.
“We have taken all steps to engage government with a view of peacefully resolving this dispute but all vain. And a Statutory 90 Days’ Notice was issued to government as the Law requires on 7th April 2022 and it is expiring on 6th July 2022 Midnight.”
The ULGWU boss also made it clear that the local government workers’ right to strike is “not only protected by the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and applicable Laws but also they have complied with all the legal requirements, regulations and instruments for example; concluded a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in 2018 and have made efforts to amicably resolve this dispute but all in vain and issued a Statutory 90 Days’ Notice was complied with through our letter to the Minister of Public Service ref number ULGWU /ADM/01/022 on 7th April 2022 about the strike which is soon expiring and government is yet to respond to it.”
Lwabayi has gone ahead to tell government officials to desist from intimidating striking employees and all local government workers to “stand up to fight for their rights through undertaking industrial action since dialogue has betrayed us.”
He added: “Therefore, we do not expect any administrative authority to interfere with this due process by threatening our members not to take part and whoever is doing it is going to be held personally liable in accordance with the applicable laws at his or her own peril and cost.”
The announcement of the strike by local government employees comes at a time when another strike by arts teachers has dragged on for over two weeks. (Read Story Here).
First lady and education minister Janet Kataaha Kainembabazi Museveni has meanwhile made it clear to arts teachers that there are over 30,000 unemployed teachers who are ready to grab their jobs if government fires them for striking. (Read Story Here).
https://www.pearltimes.co.ugbreaking-museveni-announces-final-decision-on-arts-teachers-demand-for-salary-increment/
You can read more stories from our extensive coverage of the arts teachers’ strike below:
MORE ON ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE
In his budget speech read on June 14, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced that the salaries of science teachers, scientists and health workers will be increased in a ‘very big’ way starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).
Hours after Minister Kasaija read the budget for the 2022-23 Financial Year indicating a salary increment for teachers of science, arts teachers began their strike, making it clear that all teachers matter. (Read Story Here).
Government held talks with secondary school arts teachers and primary school teachers’ leaders under Unatu. After failing to convince the striking teachers to call off their industrial action, Museveni’s government through Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, resorted to threatening teachers to either return to class or be fired.
But secondary school arts and primary level teachers under Unatu have fired back at President Museveni’s government, making it clear that threats of being fired will not force them to end their strike. (Read Story Here).
Relatedly, more government employees’ unions have threatened to lay down their tools in solidarity with striking teachers if government fires them, meaning that there could some sort of national shutdown. (Read Story Here).
The amount of money that President Museveni wants each arts teacher to be paid every month — as and when resources become available — has been revealed. (Read Story Here).
READ: VP Jessica Alupo Summons UNATU Leaders for Meeting to End Arts Teachers’ Strike
MORE ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT
MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)
The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.
For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).
In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).
See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.
UPDATED LIST: See Salary Structure for All Government Workers
Meanwhile, an NRM MP has angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).
