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 poor working conditions.

The decisions to call off the strike followed a meeting held between the workers and management 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 a telephone interview that 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 sh60,000 for the casual workers and sh250, 000 per month for the permanent staff cannot allow them sustain their families.

The over 200 workers camped at the company’s main gate demanding the firing of the company’s production manager over ‘harassment.’