The Academic Staff Association of the University of Sierra Leone (ASA-USL) has in a press release on Monday January 4, 2021, said that they would resume a strike which it put on hold till December 31, 2020.
ASA suspended its industrial action for over two weeks due to appeals from several stakeholders including the USL administration to complete the second semester examination.
ASA decided to undertake the strike action because its membership was dissatisfied that the Government of Sierra Leone did not include a 100% salary increment in the 2021 Budget.
President of ASA, Dr. Williette P.R.O. James, said that while the strike action was on hold, the executive of ASA-USL held key meetings with stakeholders of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education on the 1st and 8th December 2020, respectively.
She added that in those meetings it was agreed that salary review within the university system in Sierra Leone is long overdue, and that ASA-USL is justified to request for salary adjustment. She further said that during the meeting a proposition that a meeting with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is strategic if the issue is to be resolved was also proposed.
“The Minister of Technical and Higher Education and the Minister of Labour and Social Security, both promised individually, during the first and second meetings, respectively, to book an appointment for us to see His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to chart the way forward,” Dr. James said.
She noted that in respect of the specific mandate given to them by the general body of ASA-USL, a signed written commitment should be actualized in view of ASA, adding that they are yet to receive any such document.
“On that note, as resolved during the last ASA-USL meeting at IPAM, the industrial action is resumed henceforth,” she declared.
By George M.O. Williams
6/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7973