Leaders of the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU) have resumed their strike after accusing Wilson Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Public Service in President Museveni’s government, of trying to fool them by using a letter that left out the details of government commitment to enhance their salaries in the next financial year.
After last week’s meeting with Minister Muruli Mukasa, ULGWU leaders led by their general secretary Hassan Lwabyayi Mudiba, revealed that they had piled enough pressure on the government to the extent that it had agreed to increase their salaries in the next financial year (2023-2024) which starts in July 2023.
Lwabyayi and his team had insisted that on behalf of government, Muruli Mukasa should put the commitment to enhance salaries in writing. But when the letter finally came, it only contained the general commitment by government and had no specifics for ULGWU members’ salary enhancement.
Titled ‘Commitments made by government following the ninety days’ notice of industrial action by the Uganda Local Government Workers’ Union,’ dated July 06 and addressed to ULGWU general secretary Lwabyayi, the letter, in part, read: “I write to advise the Union that government is committed to enhancing the pay of all Government workers in a phased manner according to the approved salary pay plan and targets depending on the availability of resources.”
Lwabyayi has now described Minister Muruli Mukasa as a liar who only called ULGWU leaders to just ‘fool’ them.
“This is not even a question of lying. I take it that this guy [Minister Muruli Mukasa] was representing government. So, he is under obligation not to manage public affairs in accordance with his personal opinion,” he said.
“You invite us and you fool us. What do you want us to do? Who is promoting industrial disharmony in this country. Our strike is on, we stand by it.”
Lwabyayi has now warned government against intimidating striking local government workers.
He added that they had enough evidence to pin government over its discriminatory salary enhancement in the courts of law as well as at the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The resumption of ULGWU strike comes at a time when it has been confirmed that the UPDF senior officers will get huge salary increments starting this very month. (Read Story Here).
But other government employees, especially arts teachers, are not sure if they will get any increment despite Parliament directing government to harmonize salaries of both arts and science teachers. (Read Story Here).
Meanwhile, science teachers have told government not to touch the Shs95bn meant for the enhancement of their salaries.
FIND MORE STORIES ON INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER SALARY INCREMENT BELOW:
MORE STORIES ON UNATU ENDING STRIKE
Arts Teachers’ Strike Suspended after UNATU Meeting with Museveni
MORE STORIES ON OUR COVERAGE OF ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE & SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
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).
