Uganda Clays workers call off sit-down strike.

By Agnes Nantambi

Workers of Uganda clays Limited have called off their sit down strike in which they were protesting underpayment and poor working conditions by the company.

The decisions to call off the strike arise from a meeting held between the workers and the managers which promised that the board had agreed to sit on Friday and solve their grievances.

Living stone Mukalazi the Uganda Clays Union secretary told the New Vision in an interview that the management promised to carry out research into the allegations made against the production manager identified as John Gitta so that if a decision is taken against him, he should not blame anyone.

“After the meeting we agreed to call off the strike and we are optimistic that it will yield positive results on our side,” said Mukalazi  

He added that their Union also engaged the managing director into the signing of an agreement assuring workers that none of them will be affected by the strike.

“As clays union we have managed to force the managing director to sign an agreement giving us assurance that no worker will be sacked after or interrupted after the strike.

On the issue of the under payment Mukalazi said that the management agreed to revise it, basing on the management and the union’s agreement.

The workers since Monday went on a sit down strike citing poor health services, harassment by their bosses and delayed confirmation as staffs among others that prompted their action.

They lamented “On top of delaying our allowances and salaries they pay us very little money yet our bosses beat us, insult us and chase us from work at their own will.

They also claimed that with the current high cost of living, their current pay of sh 6000 for the casual workers and sh 25000 for the staffs cannot allow them sustain their families.

The Over 200 workers staged at the company’s main gate demanding the firing of the company’s production manager identified as John Gitta for his harassment towards them.

“That man should be taken to the zoo because it seems he is used to dealing with animals, on top of kicking workers on duty he disrespects anybody and can never listen to any ones complaint or idea,”   they said.

The workers further blamed the company’s management for failure to employ a human resource manager saying that it has led to delay in their confirmation as staff workers.

“Since this company started operating it had never had an HR the reason as to why bosses take advantage and sack people at their own will until recently,” said another worker.