By Mukembo Wilfred
After weeks of issuing threats of deleting the striking arts teachers from payroll if they don’t get back to class, government has now bowed to pressure and resorted to dialogue to solve the current crisis.
In two separate letters from the Vice president office and the public service ministry, the officials invited the teachers through their secretary general of Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) for talks on Wednesday and Friday respectively on issues concerning their ongoing industrial action.
Arts teachers laid down their tools starting June 15, over what they termed discriminatory salary enhancements.
Last week, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate, gave teachers an ultimatum of up to June 30, to return to work or risk getting deleted from government payroll.
Despite the ultimatum which ends on Thursday, teachers have remained resilient and have not shown signs of bowing to government’s threats.
“I have been requested to invite you for a meeting with H.E. the vice president to discusss ways of ending the on-going strike by the teachers.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 29th June 2022 at the office of the president committee room at 10:00 a.m” read Alex Kakooza letter, the Principal Private Secretary to H.E. The Vice President addressed to the Secretary general UNATU
In the same way, in a letter dated June 28, Bitarakwate has written to UNATU, inviting the union’s executive members for a meeting this Friday.
“Reference is made to the ongoing industrial action by Uganda National Teachers Union which started on June 15, 2022. This is therefore to invite you and four of your union executive members for a meeting with the ministry of Public Service on Friday July 1, 2022 at 2:00pm in the ministry boardroom,” reads in part the letter.
Bitarakwate noted that the meeting will focus on issues raised for the industrial action.
The development comes hours after UNATU’s general secretary, Filbert Baguma urged all striking teachers to withstand government’s intimidation and threats and continue with their strike since their industrial action is legal.
The strike followed government’s proposal to increase science teachers’ salaries by over 300% while those of arts and primary teachers were not considered.
