Teachers under their umbrella body, the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), have announced they will continue with their industurial action despite a plea from President Yoweri Museveni asking them to abandon the strike and return to duty.
On 15th June 2022, teachers mainly those who teach Arts sujects went on strike over government decision to increase salaries for only Science teachers -a move which they describe as discrimination.
On Saturday, the UNATU leadership met with President Museveni in the presence of selected cabinet ministers and senior government officials, in a move to resolve the standoff. During the meeting, the president asked Arts teachers to return to work as government addresses their pay rise but also assured the teachers that they are not discriminated. He also appreciated their service to the country.
In a statement released on Saturday, the UNATU General Secretary, Filbert Baguma said UNATU clearly presented to the president the position of the teachers who are currently on industrial action, and how the salary enhancements being effected breach the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement they signed with government in 2018.
Baguma noted that in response, government said it was not fully aware of the consequences of increasing salaries for one category of teachers to a tune of over 300% against Zero for all the other categories of teachers. He stated that the matter has now been handed to the Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Finance to review the proposed pay plan to ensure the discrepancy is harmonized.
“This therefore serves to inform the members of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union and the general public that the industrial action continues as we await the outcome of the review process” Baguma said.
He however said that resumption to duty by striking teachers will depend on how fast the ministers of Public Service and Finance conclude the review process and whether the process is satisfactory and addresses the issue of fair salary enhancement across the board.
In the national Budget for the next financial year, government allocated UGX.97Billion to enhance salaries for Science teachers in a move that will see science teachers who are diploma holders in government institutions of learning earn UGX.3million from between UGX.700,000 and UGX.900,000 while degree holders would earn UGX.4million every month.
