The Ministry of public service has in the latest development called for another discussion with the Uganda National Teachers Union over the ongoing strike.
The Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire has communicated in a letter dated June 27, 2022, inviting four officials from UNATU to address their grievances.
“This is therefore to invite you and four of your Union Executive members for a meeting with the Ministry of Public Service on Friday 01st July 2022 at 2:00 pm. The meeting will focus on issues raised for industrial action,” the letter reads
Also Read: Minister Magyezi Gives Final Warning to Striking Teachers to Teach Today or Be Fired
This development comes just hours after the Minister for Local government Raphael Magyezi on Monday directed all striking teachers to report back by close of business today or be fired.
In his directive, the Minister asked government officers in districts to monitor and report back names of teachers who will not attend school on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
Hon Magyezi said that the government has informed chief administrative officers, district education officers, district inspector of schools, sub-county, and parish chiefs to monitor those absent from school.
UNATU announced industrial action on June 15, 2022, over indiscriminate pay.
Over 120,000 teachers under their umbrella body, Uganda National Teachers Union-UNATU, pronounced industrial action this month over indiscriminate pay.
The teachers have since refused to attend lessons, despite a dialogue meeting with both the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his wife and Minister of Education and Sport, Janet Kataaha Museveni.
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The Ministry of Public Service last week ordered the striking teachers to return to their duty stations by June 24 without fail or be sacked.
The Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire communicated the decision in her letter to UNATU.
In her letter, Bitarakwate notes that whereas teachers, just like all other government employees, have rights and freedoms to withdraw their labor, the union neither gave the government notice of the strike nor exhausted the dispute settlement mechanisms as required by the public service negotiating, consultative and dispute settlement Machinery Act.
