By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with
Published on 2024-01-19 12:23:53
The staff of Makerere University have decided to call off their planned strike which was supposed to begin this week. This decision comes after the university failed to align their salaries with those of staff in other public universities, resulting in dissatisfaction among the staff.
Last week, staff associations including Makerere University Academic Staff Association (Muasa), Makerere Academic Staff Association (MASA), and the National Union of Education Institutions (NUEI) had declared their intention for a new industrial action starting on January 15. They cited the university’s failure to address their long-standing issues and the government’s inability to allocate necessary funds for salary harmonization and enhancement.
Despite pleas from the vice chancellor, Barnabas Nawangwe, to give the university management and council a chance to continue engaging with parliament and government agencies to resolve the issue, the staff remained dissatisfied. However, when a reporter visited the university, there were no signs of the impending strike, and it was business as usual.
In a letter signed by the chairpersons of the three associations, they resolved to give the government a chance to resolve the matter. However, they made it clear that if the allocated funds for salary harmonization are not included in the 2024/2025 financial year budget, they will withdraw their labor effective April 8, 2024.
The staff is demanding the inclusion of Shs 12,636,589,200 in the 2024/2025 budget for salary harmonization to stop the underpayment and cheating of some staff members. If their resolution is not fully implemented, they have given notice of another industrial action effective from January 15, 2024, to April 7, 2024.
In conclusion, the staff of Makerere University have given the government a chance to address their long-standing issues regarding salary harmonization, but have made it clear that they will take further action if their demands are not met.
Read the original article on The Observer
