By Our Reporters.
Government suffered a setback when a meeting convened by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) leaders at State House June 17, 2022 to avert ongoing teachers’ Industrial action ended in a stalemate.
The latest development is victory for UNATU, whose labour union has since 2006 been split into six other unions in the same teaching profession thereby dividing teachers and reducing their bargaining power.
Teachers under UNATU called for a countrywide industrial action demanding for uniform pay rise and protesting divisive and discriminatory salary enhancements for only science teachers.
This follows earlier industrial action spearheaded by Uganda Professional Science Teachers Union (UPSTU) which began on May 9, 2022 demanding for Ushs 4m for science teachers university degree holders and Ushs 3m for diploma holders.
President Yoweri Museveni expressed a lot of praises to the scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic period and promised to pay them Ushs 4m for degree holders and Ushs 3m for diploma holders.
It was a twist of events when UNATU joined the fight to demand for an – all inclusive salary enhancements covering arts teachers who have been exploited, discriminated and disenfranchised.
UNATU General Secretary Mr Philbert Baguma signaled start of Industrial action in a “militant” two – page statement to members dated May 12, 2022 that the union takes “action against discriminatory salary.
As the strike gained momentum in the country with learners remaining stranded and many being sent home, Education and Sports Minister who is also First Lady Hon Janet Kataha Museveni, convened a meeting with UNATU officials.
During the June 17, 2022 meeting President Museveni told UNATU leadership to give priority to the scientists and to wait for government secure money as it handles the remaining arts category..
The President asked the teachers to call off the industrial action, saying government is committed to honouring salary enhancement in a phased manner.
Mr Museveni directed the Ministries of Education and Sports, Public Service and that of Finance and Economic planning, to review the proposed government plan for salary enhancements with view to ending disharmony in the teaching profession.
State House Press Statement of June 18, 2022 said the President asked teachers in the country to call off the industrial action, adding that government had made commitment to honour salary enhancements for teachers.
But UNATU leadership has vehemently opposed government’s position terming it as a ploy aimed at “buying “ time thereby postponing solutions for problems which emanate right from 2018. They have called on all their members countrywide to continue with the strike until their demands are addressed appropriately..
If there is any big achievement government has scored
UNATU General Secretary Mr Filbert Baguma said they were disappointed with the government officials who were adamant on addressing the teachers’ demands and are instead carrying forward divisive and discriminatory salary enhancements.
“UNATU presented to the President position of the teachers over discriminatory salary enhancements, which is a breach in the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)that was signed with government in 2018,” he said.
Mr Baguma, who has lately been turned into a “punching bag” by President Yoweri Museveni with criticisms over his advocacy for teachers’ rights, said since State House meeting with the President ended in a stalemate they would continue with the strike.
“ This is to inform UNATU members and the general public that our Industrial action continues. All teachers should stay home until further notice as we await outcome of review processes, he said”.
The UNATU official said teachers return to class entirely depends on fast – tracking of the review process by concerned ministries of Public Service and that of Finance and Economic Planning .
“UNATU will call off the strike if realistic solutions in rectifying discriminatory salary enhancements for all teachers across the board have been made,” he said.
Education and Sports Ministry Spokesperson Dr Dennis Mugimba said they are working in line with the President’s position that scientists be accorded first priority in salary pay rise. Mr Mugimba’s Ministry proposal that if scientists earned Ushs 5m the artists be paid Ushs 2m, which further irked UNATU advocates who are demanding for “equal pay for equal work” without discrimination as enshrined in article 40 (3) of the Ugandan Constitution.
Officials in Education, Finance and Public Service are locked up in numerous meetings , consultations and negotiations with UNATU, UPSTU and other key stakeholders in the education with view to resolving the crisis.
Arts teachers in the country under UNATU went on industrial action on June 15, protesting discriminatory salary enhancements which are only favoring science teachers. The strike led to several schools closing down while leaners were stranded in schools as others remained home.
According to government plans science teachers, who hold university degrees will have their salaries increased from Shs1.2 m to Ushs 4 m while diploma science teachers that earn Ushs950,000/- will now take home Ushs 3m.
Public Service records indicate arts degree holders, earn Ushs1,080,000/= while diploma holders in secondary schools earn about Ushs 795,000/-.
If there is another big “achievement “ though retrogressive that government registered , is adding impetus in the divisions among fighting forces of UNATU and UPSTU. Professional Science teachers are accusing UNATU of malice and sabotage, and for failure to advocate and negotiate for arts teachers while UNATU accuses scientists of being selfish, arrogant and of being masqueraders in the labour fraternity.
But as the two Labour unions intensify the fights it is inconceivable if government will manage to pay science teachers without securing funds to cater for arts or humanities teachers.
Government officials are perplexed on the next move after President Museveni’s directive on paying scientists high wages has put cabinet in a precarious position.
Education experts have suggested shelving of proposed salary pay rise for science teachers until funds are secured to cater for all inclusive salary enhancements.
Government officials are perplexed as they are being accused of procrastination.Legal experts have said discriminatory salary enhancements is violation of Uganda Constitution article 40 (b) under “ Economic rights” that gurantees “Equal payment for equal work without discrimination”.
Some teachers say they will establish Professional Arts Teachers Union to defend their interests
Article 40 (3) stipulates that “Every worker has a right to form or join a trade union of his or her choice for the promotion and protection of his or her economic and social interests,(b) to collective bargaining and representation; and (c) to withdraw his or her labour according to law.
eight Labour unions registered in the teaching profession or Education sector which includes UNATU, UPSTU, Liberal Teachers Union (ULITU), Uganda Private Teachers Union (UPTU), National Union of Educational institutions (NUEI), Uganda University Staff union and recently registered Uganda Non – teaching staff union.
The labour unions have been embroiled in struggles aimed at gaining supremacy in the sector .
Public Service Ministry has earmarked Ushs 495b in national budget for Financial Year 2022/2023 to enhance scientists salaries ■
