A regional stakeholder’s meeting was held on July 10th, 2024, at the Catholic Center Cafeteria, Christ the King Parish in Arua City, West Nile region. The meeting brought together 32 participants inclusive of Human Resource Officers (HROs) from various districts in West Nile, along with the General Secretary of UNATU, the National Secretary for Planning and Organizing, and the Branch Chairpersons of the West Nile region. The primary objective was to strengthen the relationship between UNATU and the Human Resource Officers of West Nile, addressing and harmonizing issues between UNATU members and HROs, fostering better communication and collaboration.
Key topics discussed included the delays in salary payments due to the shift from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) to the Human Capital Management (HCM) system. The HROs expressed their commitment to working closely with UNATU and appreciated the union for recognizing the importance of their office, unlike other unions. The UNATU General Secretary emphasized that every worker has the right to join a union of their choice and withdraw labor as stipulated in the Constitution. The he also explained the Check-off regulation, which outlines the steps to withdraw from a union, involving writing to the General Secretary of the current union, who then notifies the responsible officers.
The meeting highlighted the central role of teachers and the need for timely support and information, especially concerning delayed salaries and membership code issues. It was agreed that these stakeholder meetings will be convened annually to address emerging issues and close any gaps that arise.
The HROs discussed the importance of improving teachers’ welfare, including addressing accommodation challenges. Additionally, UNATU was encouraged to involve HROs in working with branch leadership to aid in recruitment and membership education, enhancing membership and improving teacher performance. This collaboration, especially during significant gatherings like World Teachers’ Day, aims to close the information gap and ensure the effective flow of information to teachers about new systems and retirement processes plus other teacher issues.
The stakeholder meeting in West Nile marks a significant step towards reinforcing the commitment of UNATU to the welfare and professional development of its members in the West Nile region.
Perfect collaboration
A commendable work is seen here.