After 10
months of unpaid salary arrears, over 400 non-academic personnel at Rumbek
University of Science and Technology have gone on an indefinite strike,
paralyzing operations.
The
employees, who offer crucial support services to the institution, have
expressed their long-term financial struggles and their refusal to resume work
until they receive their full salaries.
The strike,
which began last week, has disrupted critical services at the university,
including administrative tasks, security, and maintenance operations, after the
protestants locked all the gates.
The staff
representative who spoke to Mingkaman FM on Monday expressed their frustration
over the prolonged delays in payment, saying the Ministry of Finance in Juba
has consistently failed to honor its financial obligations.
Dut Majok
Kuruai, chairperson of non-academic staff, says they will maintain an open
strike until they receive their unpaid arrears for ten months.
“We have not
cultivated this year because we are providing services to the university and
also to be paid,” Dut said.
“So, we can
no longer continue working under these conditions until they clear our
arrears.”
Due to the
variation in grades, Dut did not disclose how much they demand from the
government.
Efforts to
reach the Ministry of Finance and Planning in Juba were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile,
Gabriel Changson, Minister of Higher Education, pledged a swift response.