The Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) has organized a countrywide industrial action starting Monday to compel government to value labour and address workers’ issues.
The union has distributed fliers calling on workers whether government or otherwise to go on strike until government addresses their concerns.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network on Saturday, Richard Bigirwa, a member of the COFTU Central Executive Council, says they decided to take on government after realising that it was not about to meet any of their demands put to them on Labour Day.
Bigirwa explained that the union had written to the Ministries of Finance, Labour, and Public Service with no success. Bigirwa said the union wants workers to express their concerns with government.
One of fliers seen by Uganda Radio Network says that if government remains adamant then the leadership would camp in offices of these concerned ministries and call on all workers to join until their demands are handled.
According to COFTU leadership whether some of them will be arrested or not there would be no relenting even in the face of teargas.
Among the workers’ demands include the introduction of a minimum wage, establishment of an industrial court, workers involvement in NSSF and amendment to the NSSF Act.
COFTU wants government to intervene and protect the interests of the people working in South Sudan and ensure they start negotiating with public service unions on issues of salary.
The union also wants to see a budgeting for teachers’ salaries, facilitating allowances for skilled health workers, to increase attraction, retention and motivation especially in rural areas.
Workers want government to enforce all labour laws and stop the exploitation of workers, fair and equitable wages for all government staff and have workers represented on all boards of government bodies.
COFTU is also demanding to see government’s job creation strategy and ensure that investors observe labour rights and have labour days organized by workers.
The 20 point list of demands includes resolution of all grievances and disputes registered with the department of labour including issues of over taxation. Workers also want the 30 percent pay raise to all scientists as pledged by the president to be implemented.
The union also wants workers to be given a separate ministry with a budget and have labour officers appointed at district level and include workers in the prosperity for all programs implemented by government.
Police Director of Operations, Grace Turyagumanawe sounded unaware of the planned strike when contacted on Saturday, saying as police they have not received any communication from COFTU.
