Tororo Cement workers go on strike demanding salary enhancement

Tororo Cement manufacturing plant. Photo Tororo cement media

Tororo, Uganda | Dozens of Tororo cement workers laid down their tools Monday to compel the management to enhance their salaries given the high inflation. The workers, mainly from the kiln section comprising of electricians, mechanics, lab technicians, and production staff want the management to increase their salaries given the rise in commodity prices.

Paul Okumu, one of the mill attendants told URN that he has been working in the company for more than 13 years at a daily wage of Shillings 11,000. He explains that the mill he runs crushes more than 85 tons of clinkers per hour, arguing his wage doesn’t tally with the work he does.

Okumu notes that he has had various engagements with his departmental heads to improve his pay in vain. John Oketch, another worker says that they go through a lot yet they earn meager salaries.

He says that as workers, they now want to meet with the company owner to table their grievances because nobody around the company wants to listen to them. Waiswa Sinani, a member of the workers Union at the factory, says that they have been engaging the factory since May this year about staff pay but they haven’t got any positive feedback yet.

Birij Gagarani, the executive director of Tororo Cement factory has given the striking workers an ultimatum to return to the negotiation table as they look for common ground, resign or he closes the firm due to the high operational costs.

He also noted that he is aware of the high commodities prices in the market and has his workers at heart. He has promised to continue engaging with the union heads as to find a better solution for the employees.