By Ouma Stephen Bwire- Editor
The struggle for salary pay rise of science teachers took a dramatic development with the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) joining the fight to demand for an all – inclusive salary enhancements including arts’ teachers..
This follows industry action spearheaded by Uganda Professional Science Teachers Union (UPSTU) which began May 9, 2022 demanding for Ushs 4 million for science teachers holding University degrees and Ushs 3 million for diploma holders.
The new salary pay rise was announced in a Presidential directives by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during the second Covid-19 lockdown.
UPSTU is one of the new Labour unions in the Education sector that broke off from UNATU. The other unions are Uganda Private Teachers Union (UPTU) and Uganda Liberal Teachers Union. There are also other unions in the Education sector that include National Union of Educational Institutions, Uganda University Staff Union and Uganda Non – teaching Staff Union.
However there has been cold war raging on between UNATU and UPSTU with each side accusing the other of sabotage.
Whereas efforts spearheaded by UPSTU with the blessing of President Museveni are commended, their demands have been construed and reduced to discriminatory that leaves out Arts teachers.
On the other hand efforts by UNATU to advocate for an all – inclusive pay rise is being seen as sabotaging the already progressive efforts by UPSTU to effect pay rise for science teachers.
Under normal circumsntances , UNATU is supposed to make use of an already fertile ground for reaping big for arts teachers.
Both UPSTU and UNATU should put aside their historical differences including personal egos of their leaders and prioritise teachers’ interests as the guiding principle in their advocacy campaigns.
It is inconceivable how instead of both labour unions joining hands to advcocate and demand for better pay and general improvement in the welfare of all teachers in the country, are “flexing” muscles for the supremacy in the Education sector.
It is now clear the “cold war” that has been silently going on between antagonistic labour unions in the Education sector is now being waged officially and in full blast.
UNATU General Secretary Mr Philbert Baguma says all teachers deserve an increment as they all work under the same hard conditions.
But UPSTU on the other hand claims UNATU has failed to advocate for its members especially arts or humanities teachers , and is now sabotaging the gains made by UPSTU.
Both UNATU and UPSTU need to work together as strategic partners in the Education sector instead of fighting each other in a volatile environment.
The continued wrangling among trade unions especially those in the Education sector is helping government to divide workers further, heaken their bargaining power and delay the planned salary enhacements .
If science teachers succeed in getting paid Ushs 4m for university degree holders and Ushs 3m for diploma, then UNATU should use the opportunity to demand for arts teachers’ salary pay rise. Teachers will achieve anticipated salary pay risee , if they stop figting each other and work together as partners in the education sector. ■
