Teachers Union Threatens to Block Budget Over Salary Promise

Margaret Rwabushaija the Chairperson of the Teachers Union

The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) has through NRM’s Workers Representative MP Nabulya Theopista Ssentongo petitioned Parliament to ensure that the 2013-2014 Budget provides the 20% increase in the teachers’ salary as per government commitmentto the teachers in 2011 or else it blocks the budget.
 

Margaret Rwabushaija the Chairperson of the Teachers Union
Margaret Rwabushaija the Chairperson of the Teachers Union

In 2011 arising from an industrial action by teachers under UNATU, government held negotiations with teachers, asked them to call off strike and committed itself to a 50% salary increment.

The increment was to be implemented in installments as follows; in Financial Year 2012-2013 the first installment of 15% was to be made and this was provided in the previous financial year, in Financial Year 2013-2014 government was supposed to provide the 20% installment and the next financial year too government is expected to provide 15% as value increment.

UNATU acknowledged that government fulfilled its commitment and increased the salaries of 2012-2013 with the 15% but however noted that in the current financial year of 2013-2014 budget estimates the anticipated 20% increment was not provided for.

UNATU therefore asked Parliament to resolve that government unconditionally and expeditiously makes provision for the 20% increment of teacher’s salaries for Financial Year 2013-2014 as it was agreed upon on 28th July 2011.

They threaten that if government does not adhere to the resolution of Parliament then it will be constrained to refrain from passing the Financial Year Budget of 2013-2014.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah referred the teacher’s petition to the Parliamentary Committee on Education and directed an expeditious handling of the petition so that the teacher’s matter is fitted in the process of the Budget to facilitate the Budget debate rather than forestalling actions of Parliament in the matter.

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