Jonglei State workers issue 48-hour ultimatum over delayed salaries
The Jonglei State Workers Trade Union (WTU) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for their August and September salaries to be paid by the state government.
This came two weeks after their July salaries were paid prior to Christmas celebrations through an agreement penned with them by the state government. The agreement was under the supervision of a high-level committee dispatched by the President through the national Ministry of Public Service and Human Resources.
In a letter dated January 4, 2022, and extended to the City Review, the union claims that the state ministry of finance and economic planning was delaying their salaries while the ministry’s staff had already received their August salaries on December 23, 2021.
“In reference to the above-cited subject, the Jonglei State Workers’ Trade Union do hereby submit its position on the delay of August and September 2021 salaries by the state ministry of finance and (economic) planning, while the political post holders received their August (salaries) since 23/12/2021 whereas the civil servants have not been given their salaries by the state government up to date,” read the statement extended to City Review.
They called for the urgent payment of August and September salaries consecutively, council allowances for the ministry of cabinet affairs and secretariat, and “based on the state council of ministers resolution of 2012 AD” which they claim was not cancelled by any resolution.
The union also demands the payment of the state ministry of health’s infection allowance.
“The modality of payment is supposed to prioritise civil servants to be paid before political post holders to avoid injustice in the payment process,” the statement continued.
“Failure to implement the new salary structure fully may lead to further strikes or protests since the state government is applying delaying tactics and therefore, the Jonglei State Workers’ Trade Union may not be able to control the civil servants since the state government is the one who is creating the problems by interfering with civil servants’ salaries.”
Salaries received
The salaries of the civil servants in Jonglei State were paid on December 24, 2021 as per the agreement signed by the state government with the union witnessed by the committee dispatched by the president through the ministry of public service and human resources development.
The agreement stipulated that the salaries of the civil servants would be paid before Christmas using the 100 per cent salary scale announced by President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the celebration of the tenth anniversary of independence on July 9, 2022.
Samuel Majier, who serves as the Secretary-General of WTU, confirmed that they had received their salaries and were happy but did not mention anything about the salaries of August and September 2021.
“We have all received our salaries but if there are people who did not receive their salaries, it is only delayed due to Christmas. As a workers trade union, we are going to write an official letter to officially call off the strike and appreciate the government. We are comfortable with the payment,” he said.
The agreement
After holding a meeting with the minister of public service and human resource management, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, and Jonglei State governor Denay Jock Chagor, President Kiir gave a directive for a fact-finding committee to be sent to Bor to establish the cause of the demonstrations and why salaries had not been paid.
On the same day when the protesters blocked the road to Bor airport, an agreement was signed that the salaries would be paid within a week in full according to the directive from the president and that the nature of work allowance should be paid through local state revenue.
“It was collectively agreed that (there should be) immediate payment of all civil servants’ salaries, multiplied by two based on 100 per cent presidential salary increases to quickly be effected,” read the statement.
“The state government is to pay the nature of the work allowance from local revenue within seven days from the date of this resolution. Without delay to the implementation of this message order, you are all directed to act accordingly as soon as possible,” the statement added.
The civil servants gave their deadline that if the salaries were not paid before December 27, 2021, they would return to demonstrations, saying it would mean that the agreement has been dishonoured.
“We have been in the meeting for two days now and finally reached an agreement today (Wednesday). The resolution meets our needs, but we told them that we should be paid from December 27. If this is not done, the agreement is dishonoured, and we shall resume peaceful demonstrations, ” Majier said.