Local Government workers have followed in the footsteps of their colleagues to lay down tools over salary enhancement.
Under their umbrella the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), the aggrieved public officers claim the government has failed to commit to enhancing salaries despite negotiations.
Over 70,000 local government workers have laid down their tools.
According to the Union Secretary-General, Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba, the government’s failure to address their grievances.The had asked the government to commit to including the salary enhancement in the budget call circular for the financial year 2023/2024.
In a meeting held last week, the Public service Minister Muruli Mukasa committed to enhancing salaries of public servants in the next financial year. The Minister asked the union to halt their planned strike as the government commits to put it into writing.
“I write to advise the Union that the 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,” the minister’s letter dated July 6 reads in part.
Now, Mudiba says they will strike until the government considers committing in writing.
“The Executive Board agreed with the commencement of industrial action…until the Government gives a credible commitment to Local Government Workers’ grievances,” his letter adds.
In 2018, the government agreed to solve the matter of civil servants’ pay and disparities when it signed the Collective Bargaining (CBA) Act with the labor union.
The Ministry of Finance will release the budget call circular in September outlining the expenditure ceilings for each category for the upcoming fiscal year.
The union is demanded a written guarantee that entry-level employees and other support staff, such as attendants, would receive Shillings 1.7 million and the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), to earn 15 million shilling up from 2.3 million
In 2018, the government agreed to solve the matter of civil servants’ pay and disparities when it signed the Collective Bargaining (CBA) Act with the labor union.
