Non-academic staff at Rumbek University go on strike over unpaid salaries

JUBA – Non-academic staff at Rumbek University of Science and Technology have gone on strike, demanding ten months of unpaid salaries, from January to September 2024, as well as arrears for December 2023.

Dut Majok Kurauai, Chairperson of the Non-Academic Staff Association at Rumbek University, said a general assembly meeting was held where members unanimously resolved to demand payment for the outstanding salaries and arrears.

“We conducted a general assembly meeting and resolved that we need payment of ten months’ salaries and one month of arrears. Therefore, we, the Non-Academic Staff Association of Rumbek University of Science and Technology, have decided to go on strike starting Monday until our demands are addressed by the National Ministry of Finance and Planning. There will be no services at Rumbek University of Science and Technology,” Majok said.

Sabit Job Reech, Guild President of Rumbek University, urged the government to provide an urgent solution to the ongoing suffering of students at the institution.

“On behalf of Rumbek University of Science and Technology’s General Students Assembly, and on my own behalf, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of Hon. Minister of Higher Education and Science Technology, Hon. Gabriel Changson Chang, that students at Rumbek University are stranded without lectures and basic necessities,” Reech said.

He noted that lecturers have also not been paid for over ten months, and some who left for holidays are unable to return due to a lack of transport fares.

“A few lecturers who remain on campus have stopped working due to the same problem of unpaid salaries,” he added.

Reech called on the government to address the situation immediately, emphasizing that the contractor responsible for student feeding has also not been paid by the National Ministry of Finance and Planning, making life unbearable for students on campus.

“We are humbly calling upon your leadership to ensure that our lecturers are paid as soon as possible so they can resume their duties. Additionally, the contractor facilitating students’ feeding must be paid to ease the hardships students are facing,” Reech said.

He warned that if nothing is done within seven days, students will stage peaceful demonstrations, stressing that they cannot continue to suffer without food or lectures.

“We will make our voices heard,” Reech concluded.