Don’t touch our pay, dons warn Salaries and Remuneration Commission

By Titus Too

Lecturers have come out fighting and warned the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) against taking away any penny from their salaries.

The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) said they will not accept any review of their pay downward, and instead they would agitate for a pay hike.

UASU Secretary General Muga Kolale (pictured) said for many years, the Government has underpaid lecturers in public universities despite churning out millions of professionals for the job market.

 “The salaries we currently earn were negotiated, agreed upon and registered in the Industrial Court. We will not allow a review downwards but will press for increments,” he said.

Mr Kolale said lecturers contribute in training qualified personnel to propel economic growth and they should be paid well.  Union Chairman Sammy Kubasu said the Government should invest more on universities if Vision 2030 blueprints are to be achieved.

 “Hungry brains cannot carry out any research for quality education. University lecturers should be paid well,” he added.  The Sarah Serem-led SRC is currently in a row with MPs for slashing their salaries.