By Amara Thoronka
TheUnion of Academic Staff Association (UASA) has suspended its strike action. This is according to a public notice dated 13th December 2023 and signed by the association’s spokesperson, Dr. Tonya Musa.
It could be recalled that UASAwas in series of engagements with Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Labor Employment and Social Security, Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Technical and Higher Education,Tertiary Education Commission and university administrations of public tertiary institutions due to delay in addressing some burning welfare issues of the Academic Staff of these institutions.
The Union said, although it appreciates the interventions and proposals made by the university authorities, no clear solutions were reached on issuance of appointment letters and upgrade of salaries to University Status of the staff of these institutions; full implementation of the 2022-2024 CoS for academic and senior administrative staff of public tertiary institutions; implementation of 58 percent of basic salary adjustment, 30 percent rent allowance, and 15 percent medical allowance; and suspension of the implementation of new criteria for promotion of academic staff until the enabling environment is created.
The notice emphasized stated that, considering the current security situation in the country, the Union has resolved to suspend the industrial action which was to be effected on the 18th December 2023.
“It should be emphatically noted that at the end of February, 2024, UASA will not give any further notice for Industrial Action if the issues mentioned are not addressed within the stipulated period.
In addition, UASA notes with dismay the incessant intimidation of Academic Staff Association of MMTU by the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the institution. UASA craves the intervention of MTHE to put a permanent end to such intimidation before it goes out of hand,” the Union said, while expressing hopes that the outstanding concerns be addressed in order to forestall any industrial action.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, December 15th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)