Work paralysed as Bugambe Tea Estate workers protest over poor pay

KIKUUBE– Work at Bugambe Tea Estate Factory in Bugambe Sub-county in Kikuube district was paralysed after the employees of the factory went on strike demanding a monthly pay rise.

The workers held the strike after the tea factory managed by MCLEOD Russel Uganda failed to fulfill the promise of increasing their salaries.

On Monday, hit by the high prices of essential commodities and services like health and education, the over 250 casual workers who work inside the factory and others who pluck the tea leaves, laid down their tools demanding that their salaries be increased as promised by management last year.

However, it was reported that during the strike, some of the workers violently assaulted some of their colleagues who had refused to join the strike thus injuring a section of the workers.

This forced the security personnel manning the factory to arrest leaders of the strike and handed them over to Katanga Police Post in Bugambe Sub-county, while others fled the company’s premises in fear of being arrested.

This strike forced the Kikuube district security team led by the Kikuube resident district commissioner Amlan Tumusiime to rush to the factory to calm down the striking and angry workers.

The workers blamed their bosses and the National Union for Plantation and Agriculture workers for neglecting their demands

The workers’ strike forced the security committee to engage the factory management and later engaged the workers before they had a general meeting to discuss the matter.

During the meeting, workers argued that their salaries and wages are supposed to be increased every January but nothing has happened, stating that the cost of living has gone higher that they cannot afford to fend for their families.

Robert Barikenda, the human resource manager said that recently the tea company announced an interim increment of Shs 17,000 for grade six workers, Shs 15,000 for grade seven workers per month as negotiations between the company and the unions continue.

However, the workers rejected the increment, saying that such an increment was too little to make them survive.  Jackson Ebeneeza, a worker, said that the increase was nothing compared to the current cost of living which is going higher every day.

He noted that their strike was not in any way aimed at sabotaging the business of the factory but it was about fighting for their rights.

He noted that they only need that company to come out and give them a salary increment which is realistic.

Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner alongside the company’s operations manager Stephen Rajesh convinced the workers to appreciate the increment and call off the strike as they wait for outcomes from the negotiations.

After a meeting that lasted for two hours, the workers called off the strike and agreed to resume work on condition that company management will review.

Tumusiime commended the workers for listening to their plea and challenged the company to respect the right of their workers

Edina Nyiraneza, the officer in charge of Kikuube district police station warned workers against engaging in violent strikes.

He noted that though demonstrating is their right, it is wrong to be violent as it may result in death, injuries, as well as the destruction of property.

https://thecooperator.news/coop-ginnery-workers-decry-inhumane-working-conditions/

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