Rumbek University staff threaten to strike, demand 9-month salary arrears

Lecturers at the Rumbek University of Science and Technology (RUST) after a general assembly meeting on Tuesday threatened to down their tools if the government fails to pay their nine-month salary arrears.

On Monday, the academic staff association and workers union at the University of Bahr-el-Ghazal started a peaceful sit-down strike over unpaid salary arrears.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the chairperson of the steering committee, Mathew Malou Mariec said that the general assembly of academic staff had agreed on the three resolutions, "We as members of academic staff in solidarity with other public universities are in demand of our nine (9) months salaries payments for the year,2020 and further adjustments in 2020 budget."

He added, "We also demand the payments of our annual air ticket allowances to all public universities which was mentioned in the council of ministers resolutions NO.14/2019, pages 4 and 5. The universities' administrators said that the air ticket allowances are with the national ministry of finance and economic planning while the ministry says that air ticket allowances is with the university."

He said they have finally resolved to give a 72-hour ultimatum to the national finance ministry to pay their nine months' salaries arrears failure to which they would go on strike.

Malou said from April to December 2020, teachers have not received their salaries from the finance ministry.

The university official further noted that they had finalized supplementary exams and registration for the next school year had begun. He added that classes should begin by the 5th of January 2021 if and only if their salaries and air ticket allowances are paid.

The five public universities are the University of Juba, Upper Nile University, the University of Bahr el Ghazal, Rumbek University, and Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology.