Kiira Dam Workers Call Off Strike

May 08, 2002

WORKERS at Kiira and Nalubaale (Owen Falls) power dams in Jinja called off their five-day strike yesterday after management issued a memorandum to review their salaries.

By Abubaker Mukoseand Yunusu AbbeyWORKERS at Kiira and Nalubaale (Owen Falls) power dams in Jinja called off their five-day strike yesterday after management issued a memorandum to review their salaries.The workers, who belong to Uganda Electricity Generation Company (UEGC) Limited, which runs the two dams, had been on a go-slow strike since Thursday, demanding a 20% pay rise. Daudi Migereko, the energy state minister, said yesterday he held a meeting with the workers on Monday in which they agreeed to resume work as their demands were being reviewed.“I asked the managing director (John Mugyenzi) to submit to the board a salary increment proposal which would be reviewed. The board will in turn submit the proposal to the ministries of energy and finance for consideration,” Migereko said.“But I told them (workers) to be patient and know that they work in a crucial area,” he said.He said the ministry needed time to work on the workers demands. He said the Electricity Regulatory Authority would be consulted over the pay proposal.“We have released a memo in respect to a directive by the minister (Migereko) requiring us to come up with a salary review proposal and many workers have resumed their duties,” Mugyenzi said yesterday.The memorandum assured workers of a good salary review. The workers also wanted their terminal benefits paid with interest effective April 2001.They had threatened to lay down their tools if no statement was issued by Monday.Mugyenzi said he had received the minister’s directive in writing as demanded by the workers before going back to work.Ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});