Kyambogo staff refuse to re-apply
May 05, 2008
KYAMBOGO University’s non-teaching staff have refused to re-apply for their jobs, saying the process is irregular and would lead to loss of their salary arrears of sh1.4b.
By Conan Businge
KYAMBOGO University’s non-teaching staff have refused to re-apply for their jobs, saying the process is irregular and would lead to loss of their salary arrears of sh1.4b.
“Applying for a job which one has is not valid, even applying for jobs which are not advertised is not legal,†the National Union of Educational Institutions said in a letter.
The association has 6,000 members. By press time, the union members were still in a meeting. On April 24, they warned management of legal action if their arrears were not paid in seven days.
The order to re-apply is intended to sort out the persistent salary and terms of service complaints that had dogged the university since its inception in 2003.
The problem started with integration of three institutions that formed the university. These were the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo and Uganda Institute of Special needs Education.
Several strikes over financial management marred the university till its closure in March.
A committee to look into the problems was set up after lecturers went on a sit-down strike in March over the non-payment of their enhancements from July 2007 and the deduction of their salaries.
In a report, the committee recommended a new salary structure and that all staff and they had to re-apply for their posts.
The non-teaching staff had to present original copies of their appointment letters, academic papers and identity cards.
“Any serving officer not satisfied with the result of the validation exercise is free to appeal to the Public Service Commission within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter of communication results,†said a notice from management.
The report said the university owed the teaching and non-teaching staff sh1.76b in salary arrears from July 2003 to September 2006.
In addition, salary arrears of sh350m accumulated from September 2006 to January 2007 after the integration.
When The New Vision visited Farmers House Kampala, where the screening was taking place yesterday, only four out of 647 staff had reported.
Public relations officer John Bulenzibuto said he was aware of the union’s concerns. “We are not screening the union, but individuals. This is not a union activity.
“Whoever wants to heed the union’s position does so at their peril. Those who will not be screened will not be re-employed.â€
On unpaid salary arrears, Bulenzibuto said: “Those are issues they want to negotiate with management. They will be paid, but that does not stop them from being screened.â€
The non-teaching staff’s validation process is supposed to run till May 13.
Meanwhile, the teaching staffs’ validation exercise was completed last week.
KYAMBOGO University’s non-teaching staff have refused to re-apply for their jobs, saying the process is irregular and would lead to loss of their salary arrears of sh1.4b.
“Applying for a job which one has is not valid, even applying for jobs which are not advertised is not legal,†the National Union of Educational Institutions said in a letter.
The association has 6,000 members. By press time, the union members were still in a meeting. On April 24, they warned management of legal action if their arrears were not paid in seven days.
The order to re-apply is intended to sort out the persistent salary and terms of service complaints that had dogged the university since its inception in 2003.
The problem started with integration of three institutions that formed the university. These were the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo and Uganda Institute of Special needs Education.
Several strikes over financial management marred the university till its closure in March.
A committee to look into the problems was set up after lecturers went on a sit-down strike in March over the non-payment of their enhancements from July 2007 and the deduction of their salaries.
In a report, the committee recommended a new salary structure and that all staff and they had to re-apply for their posts.
The non-teaching staff had to present original copies of their appointment letters, academic papers and identity cards.
“Any serving officer not satisfied with the result of the validation exercise is free to appeal to the Public Service Commission within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter of communication results,†said a notice from management.
The report said the university owed the teaching and non-teaching staff sh1.76b in salary arrears from July 2003 to September 2006.
In addition, salary arrears of sh350m accumulated from September 2006 to January 2007 after the integration.
When The New Vision visited Farmers House Kampala, where the screening was taking place yesterday, only four out of 647 staff had reported.
Public relations officer John Bulenzibuto said he was aware of the union’s concerns. “We are not screening the union, but individuals. This is not a union activity.
“Whoever wants to heed the union’s position does so at their peril. Those who will not be screened will not be re-employed.â€
On unpaid salary arrears, Bulenzibuto said: “Those are issues they want to negotiate with management. They will be paid, but that does not stop them from being screened.â€
The non-teaching staff’s validation process is supposed to run till May 13.
Meanwhile, the teaching staffs’ validation exercise was completed last week.