Western Bahr el Ghazal university staff down tools over salaries

November 7, 2022 (WAU) – The teaching staff of South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal University have downed their tools amid demands for an increment in their salaries.

This followed a new salary structure proposed by the national government in Juba.

The staff earlier threatened to down tools if government failed to meet their demands.

The staff union head, Lual Dario said they would continue until their demands are met.

“The academic staff association of the University Bahr el Ghazal ran out of patience. We have declared industrial action starting with a strike to continue for one week,” he said.

Dario vowed to take next steps should there be no action from the national government.

He said salary increment be made in accordance with the prevailing Central Bank rates.

“The reason we went for industrial action was for the urgent implementation of new salary scale in accordance to the bank inflation rate of SSP 629 per USD,” stressed Dario.

He demanded payment of arrears from July, medical allowances and flight tickets.

Meanwhile, the university’s deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. Awa Abdulahia Margan blamed the national government for allegedly failing to respond to demands from staff.

“We in the administration cannot stop them from demanding their rights, but they have to understand that we engaging with concern ministries over their matters,” he said.

The university was established, in response to citizens’ educational needs, in 1991.

(ST)